[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 246 (Thursday, December 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80490-80491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32607]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

[EE-178-78]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

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 an 
existing final regulation, EE-178-78 (TD 7898), Employers' Qualified 
Educational Assistance Programs (Section 1.127-2).

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before February 20, 
2001 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Garrick R. Shear, Internal 
Revenue Service, room 5244, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the regulation should be directed to Martha R. Brinson, (202) 
622-3869, Internal Revenue Service, room 5244, 1111 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Employers' Qualified Educational Assistance Programs.
    OMB Number: 1545-0768.
    Regulation Project Number: EE-178-78.
    Abstract: Internal Revenue Code section 127(a) provides that the 
gross income of an employee does not include amounts paid or expenses 
incurred by an employer if furnished to the employee pursuant to a 
qualified educational assistance program. This regulation requires that 
a qualified educational assistance program must be a separate written 
plan of the employer and that employees must be notified of the 
availability and terms of the program. Also, substantiation may be 
required to verify that employees are entitled to exclude from their 
gross income amounts paid or expenses incurred by the employer.
    Current Actions: There is no change to this existing regulation.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, and 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,200.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 615.
    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

[[Page 80491]]

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: December 15, 2000.
Garrick R. Shear,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-32607 Filed 12-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-U