[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41622-41623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20696]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Cognitive and 
Psychological Research Coordinated by Statistics of Income on Behalf of 
All IRS Operations Functions

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 
Cognitive and Psychological Research Coordinated by Statistics of 
Income on Behalf of All IRS Operations Functions.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before October 5, 1998 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Garrick R. Shear, Internal 
Revenue

[[Page 41623]]

Service, room 5571, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection should be directed to Carol 
Savage, (202) 622-3945, Internal Revenue Service, room 5569, 1111 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cognitive and Psychological Research Coordinated by 
Statistics of Income on Behalf of All IRS Operations Functions.
    OMB Number: 1545-1349.
    Abstract: The proposed research will improve the quality of data 
collection by examining the psychological and cognitive aspects of 
methods and procedures such as: interviewing processes, forms redesign, 
survey and tax collection technology and operating procedures (internal 
and external in nature).
    Current Actions: We will be conducting different opinion surveys, 
focus group sessions, think-aloud interviews, and usability studies 
regarding cognitive research surrounding forms submission or IRS 
system/product development.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals and businesses or other for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,000.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 27 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,000.
    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 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 27, 1998.
Garrick R. Shear,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-20696 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-U