[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60388-60389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20702]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5207]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Department of 
State Forms DS-98 and DS-99; Application for Diplomatic Exemption Form; 
OMB Control Number 1405-0069

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in 
the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting 
this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
     Title of Information Collection: Application for 
Diplomatic Exemption From Taxes.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0069.
     Type of Request: Extension of an approved collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office 
of Foreign Missions, Diplomatic Tax and Customs Office, DS/OFM/VTC/TC.
     Form Number: DS-98 & DS-99.
     Respondents: Eligible foreign diplomatic or consular 
missions, certain foreign government organizations, and designated 
international organizations.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 350.
     Estimated Number of Responses: Approximately 2419.
     Average Hours Per Response: 15 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden: 605 hours.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain a 
benefit.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 60 
days from October 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. You must include the 
DS form number, information collection title, and OMB control number in 
the subject line of your message.
     Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Office of 
Foreign Missions, International Place, NW., U.S.

[[Page 60389]]

Department of State, Washington, DC, 20008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection and 
supporting documents, to Ms. Irina Kaufman, DS/OFM/VTC, 3507 
International Place, NW., U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, 
20008, who may be reached on 202-895-3683, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our functions.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
technology.
    Abstract of proposed collection: Exemption from taxes on the use of 
public utilities and the purchase of gasoline and other motor fuels is 
enjoyed by foreign diplomatic and consular personnel on assignment in 
the United States under the provisions of the Vienna Conventions on 
Diplomatic and Consular Relations and the terms of various bilateral 
agreements. Under the Foreign Missions Act of 1982 (as amended), 22 
U.S.C. 4301 et seq., the Department of State's Office of Foreign 
Missions (OFM) is given the authority to grant privileges and benefits, 
based on reciprocity. Forms DS-98, ``Application for Diplomatic 
Exemption From Taxes on Utilities'', and DS-99, ``Application for 
Diplomatic Exemption From Taxes on Gasoline'', provide OFM with the 
necessary information to provide and administer the benefit effectively 
and efficiently.
    Methodology: Paper copies of the DS-98 and DS-99 are either hand 
carried or mailed to OFM. Foreign missions can access both forms on the 
OFM Web site in Portable Document Format (PDF), which provides a data-
input and print feature for clean and legible paper copies. An 
electronic submission option is expected to be made available to 
respondents in October of 2005.

John R. Arndt,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Deputy Director, Office 
of Foreign Missions, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 05-20702 Filed 10-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-43-P