[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 4917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1740]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

[REG-120168-97]


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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an 
existing final regulation, REG-120168-97 (TD 8798), Preparer Due 
Diligence Requirements for Determining Earned Income Credit 
Eligibility.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before April 1, 2005, 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Paul Finger, Internal Revenue 
Service, room 6416, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the regulation should be directed to Allan Hopkins, at (202) 
622-6665, or at Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the Internet, at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Preparer Due Diligence Requirements for Determining Earned 
Income Credit Eligibility.
    OMB Number: 1545-1570.
    Regulation Project Number: REG-120168-97.
    Abstract: Income tax return preparers who satisfy the due diligence 
requirements in this regulation will avoid the imposition of the 
penalty section 6695(g) of the Internal Revenue Code for returns or 
claims for refund due after December 31, 1997. The due diligence 
requirements include soliciting the information necessary to determine 
a taxpayer's eligibility for, and amount of, the Earned Income Tax 
Credit and the retention of this information.
    Current Actions: There are no changes being made to this existing 
regulation.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 5 hours, 4 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 507,136.
    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: January 21, 2005.
Paul Finger,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-1740 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P