[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75791-75792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7586]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Quarterly Survey of State and Local Government Tax Revenue

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, 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)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 21, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Christopher Pece, Chief, Public Finance Analysis 
Branch-B, Governments Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 
20233-6800 (301-763-7330).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request an extension of the 
Quarterly Survey of State and Local Tax Revenue. The Census Bureau 
needs state and local tax data to produce benchmark statistics on 
public sector taxes; to provide data to the Bureau of Economic Analysis 
for GDP calculations and other economic indicators; and to provide data 
for economic research and comparative studies of governmental finances. 
The Census Bureau collects data quarterly from state and local 
government tax collecting agencies.
    Tax collection data serve as important measures of economic 
activity for the Nation as a whole, as well as for comparison among the 
various states. These data are also useful in comparing the mix of 
taxes employed by individual states and in determining the revenue 
raising capacity of different types of taxes.
    The survey collects data using three forms:
     Form F-71 obtains data on local government property taxes. 
The Census Bureau sends this form to 5,448 local government tax-
collecting agencies in 530 county areas. While some counties are served 
by a single county-level tax collection agency, others have a mix of 
county, city, township, special district, and school district 
collectors. The form requests that each collecting agency report the 
total property tax collections during the past quarter.
     Form F-72 obtains data on state government taxes. The 
Census Bureau sends this form to state government revenue, finance, or 
budget agencies to obtain tax collection data for the preceding 3-month 
period.
     Form F-73 obtains data on major local government non-
property taxes. Currently 111 local government tax collection agencies 
with substantial collections of local general sales and local income 
taxes qualify to receive this form.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau canvasses the F-71 respondents by mail. Census 
Bureau staff manually screen most responses and enter data via an 
internal Web site. We encourage governments to respond via the 
Internet, where they can enter data directly.
    We fashion the F-72 requests according to respondents wishes, 
either e-mail or facsimile.
    Respondents have several options for replying--e-mail, postal 
service, or electronically. The Census Bureau dispatches the F-73 forms 
by postal service, facsimile, or electronically, as requested by the 
governments. Respondents may use any of these formats for the returns.
    In those instances when we are not able to obtain a response we 
conduct a follow-up.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0112.
    Form Number: F-71, F-72, and F-73.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,610.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,661.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to the respondents 
is $113,277.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., section 182.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

[[Page 75792]]

burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 15, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E5-7586 Filed 12-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P