[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 3347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-630]



[[Page 3347]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    Summary: In accordance with the requirement of Section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides 
opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the 
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed data collections.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection 
of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Title and purpose of information collection: Gross Earnings Report; 
OMB 3220-0132.
    In order to carry out the financial interchange provisions of 
section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the RRB obtains 
annually from railroad employer's the gross earnings for their 
employees on a one-percent basis, i.e., 1% of each employer's railroad 
employees. The gross earnings sample is based on the earnings of 
employees whose social security numbers end with the digits ``30.'' The 
gross earnings are used to compute payroll taxes under the financial 
interchange.
    The gross earnings information is essential in determining the tax 
amounts involved in the financial interchange with the Social Security 
Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Besides 
being necessary for current financial interchange calculations, the 
gross earnings file tabulations are also an integral part of the data 
needed to estimate future tax income and corresponding financial 
interchange amounts. These estimates are made for internal use and to 
satisfy requests from other government agencies and interested groups. 
In addition, cash flow projections of the social security equivalent 
benefit account, railroad retirement account and cost estimates made 
for proposed amendments to laws administered by the RRB are dependent 
on input developed from the information collection.
    The RRB utilizes Form BA-11 or its electronic equivalent(s) to 
obtain gross earnings information from railroad employers. One response 
is requested of each railroad employer. Completion is mandatory. No 
changes are proposed to Form BA-11.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

    Gross earnings reports are required annually from all employers 
reporting railroad service and compensation. There are approximately 
635 railroad employers who currently report gross earnings to the RRB. 
Most large railroad employers include their railroad subsidiaries in 
their gross earnings reports. This results in the RRB collecting less 
than 637 earnings reports. Also, there are a large number of railroad 
employers having work forces so small that they do not have employees 
with social security numbers ending in ``30.'' Currently, there are 338 
such employers in this category who file ``negative'' BA-11 responses 
to the RRB. Overall, on an annual basis, the RRB receives 84 reports 
consisting of computer prepared tapes or diskettes and 77 by means of 
manually prepared Form BA-11. The RRB estimates an average preparation 
time of 5 hours for each gross earnings report submitted by computer 
tape, 30 minutes for each diskette, 30 minutes for each manually 
prepared Form BA-11, and 15 minutes for each negative response.
    Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or 
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, 
and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at 
(312) 751-3363 or send an e-mail request to [email protected]. 
Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to 
Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or send an e-mail to 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-630 Filed 1-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P