[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 69063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30969]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Survey of State and Local Tax Revenues

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before March 1, 2010.

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 Cheryl Lee, Chief, State Finance and Tax 
Statistics Branch, Governments Division, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 
Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233 (301-763-5635).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the Quarterly Summary of State and Local 
Tax Revenue, using the F-71 (Quarterly Survey of Property Tax 
Collection), F-72 (Quarterly Survey of State Tax Collections), and F-73 
(Quarterly Survey of Non-Property Taxes) forms. The Census Bureau is 
requesting a revision to the F-73 form, which surveys local governments 
on the non-property taxes they collect. The revised form will collect 
additional information about local government revenue, covering areas 
such as motor fuel sales, public utilities, alcohol sales, tobacco 
sales, motor vehicle licenses and operator's licenses corporate income 
and all other non-property taxes. The Census Bureau needs local tax 
data to publish benchmark statistics on public sector taxes, to provide 
data to the Bureau of Economic Analysis for Gross Domestic Product 
(GDP) calculations and other economic indicators, and to provide data 
for economic research and comparative studies of governmental finances. 
Data are collected on a quarterly basis from State and local government 
tax collecting agencies.
    Tax collection data are used to measure economic activity for the 
Nation as a whole, as well as for comparison among the various States. 
These data also are useful in comparing the mix of taxes employed by 
individual localities, and in determining the revenue raising capacity 
of different types of taxes.
    The Quarterly Survey of Non-Property Taxes (Form F-73) will be sent 
to approximately 3,000 local tax collection agencies known to have 
substantial collections of local general sales and/or local individual 
income taxes every quarter. A new sample frame is being developed to 
accompany the new survey design. The new sample is designed to meet the 
Office of Management and Budget's statistical standards for data 
quality.

II. Method of Collection

    The F-73 forms are sent to respondents by direct mail. Respondents 
submit the forms by mail, e-mail, facsimile or Internet. (E-mail and 
facsimile are accepted but not encouraged.)
    In those instances when we are not able to obtain a response we 
conduct follow-up operations using e-mail and phone calls.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0112.
    Form Number: F-71, F-72, F-73.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,800.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $269,154.
    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 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 24, 2009.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-30969 Filed 12-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P