[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 144 (Monday, July 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40401-40402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19701]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8853

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning 
Form 8853, Medical Savings Accounts and Long-Term Care Services and 
Contracts.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 26, 
1997 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Garrick R. Shear, Internal 
Revenue Service, room 5571, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Martha R. 
Brinson, (202) 622-3869, Internal Revenue Service, room 5571, 1111 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Medical Savings Accounts and Long-Term Care Services and 
Contracts.
    OMB Number: To be assigned later.
    Form Number: Form 8853.
    Abstract: This form is used by individuals to report general 
information about their medical savings accounts (MSAs), to figure 
their MSA deductions, and to figure their taxable distributions from 
MSAs. The form is also used to report taxable payments from long-term 
care (LTC) contracts.
    Current Actions: This is a new collection of information.
    Type of Review: New OMB approval.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,250,000.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hr., 43 min.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,877,500.
    The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of 
information covered by this notice:
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records 
relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as 
their contents may become material in the administration of any 
internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return information 
are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 
the collection of information is necessary for the proper

[[Page 40402]]

performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) 
estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

    Approved: July 18, 1997.
Garrick R. Shear,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-19701 Filed 7-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-U