[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17861-17862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8962]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for IRS Taxpayer Service 
Benchmark Survey, Focus Group and Telephone Interview

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 
IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service Benchmark Survey, Focus Group and 
Telephone Interview.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before June 10, 2003, 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Glenn P. Kirkland, Internal 
Revenue Service, room 6411, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of information collection should be directed to Carol Savage, 
(202) 622-3945, or through the internet ([email protected].), 
Internal Revenue Service, room 6407, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: IRS Taxpayer Advocate Benchmark Survey, Focus Group and 
Telephone Interview.
    OMB Number: To be assigned later.
    Abstract: In September 2002, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) 
completed an extensive one-year research program that identified its 
target audience far more definitively. The research program showed that 
the actual target was much broader and included a wide mix of different 
life circumstances--ranging from Affluent Families and Empty Nesters at 
the higher end of the income scale, to the Stable Middle Class in the 
center, to Surviving Spouses, Struggling Young Families, and Unmarried 
Poor at the lower end of the income scale. The research also showed 
that Small Business Owners are an important element of the target 
audience, while Non-English speaking Taxpayers are not as important as 
had been believed (with the latter segment being no more prevalent in 
the TAS target audience than in the Total Taxpayer audience). TAS is 
planning communications to the Underserveds, with a focus on four key 
segments of the Underserved audience--Surviving Spouses, Struggling 
Young Families, Unmarried Poor, and Small Business Owners. It is 
necessary to conduct a marketing research effort to guide development 
of new communications and track their impact, while continuing the 
tracking of the target audience that is a part of the overall research 
strategy of TAS.
    Current Actions: This is a new collection of information.
    Type of Review: New OMB Approval.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,180.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 5 hrs., 26 min.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,422.
    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

[[Page 17862]]

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: April 7, 2003.
Glenn P. Kirkland,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-8962 Filed 4-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P