[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24075-24076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11413]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation
Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
(CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request extension of a 
currently approved information collection that requests a payee's 
identifying number used by CCC and FSA to issue payments or other 
disbursements. The programs under which payments are made are 
authorized by the Agricultural Act of 1970, the Commodity Credit 
Corporation Charter Act, the Food Security Act of 1985, and the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Act).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 1, 
1997 to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Darin Cote, Agricultural 
Program Specialist, Compliance and Production Adjustment Division, 
USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Ave, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20250-2415, (202) 720-8129.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Payer's Request for Identifying Number.
    OMB Number: 0560-0121.
    Expiration Date: June 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: In order to provide the Internal Revenue Service with 
proper identification for the processing of tax returns, all producers 
who receive CCC and FSA program payments must provide FSA with a social 
security, employer, or IRS identifying number. Form CCC-343, Payer's 
Request for Identifying Number, will collect this information without 
regard to whether the payee is required to file a tax return or is 
covered by social security.
    The county FSA office prepares a CCC-343 for each producer who has 
not furnished a producer ID number. Once the ID number is obtained and 
provided to the county FSA office, the producer is not requested to 
provide this information again. FSA does not make any program payment 
until a producer furnishes a social security, employer, or IRS 
identifying number.
    The Agency cost estimates are $6,210 for data collection. 
Identification of producers allows FSA to provide IRS with identifying 
numbers for tax collection purposes. Section 6676 of the Internal 
Revenue Code provides a penalty for failure to furnish an identifying 
number to a payer required to report such number to the Service.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .08 hours (5 minutes) per response.
    Respondents: Individual producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 250 hours.

[[Page 24076]]

    Proposed topics for comment include: (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; 
or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the information 
on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be 
sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 
20503 and to Darin Cote, Agricultural Program Specialist, Compliance 
and Production Adjustment Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 
Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-2415, (202)720-8129.
    Copies of information collection may be obtained from Darin Cote, 
at the above address.
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collections(s) of 
information contained in these proposed regulations between 30 and 60 
days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, a comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect 
if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. This does not affect 
the deadline for the public to comment to the Department of Agriculture 
on any substantive common provisions regulations that may be the 
subject of other notices.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on April 25, 1997.
Bruce R. Weber,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation, Administrator, 
Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 97-11413 Filed 5-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P