[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 199 (Friday, October 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63543-63544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25947]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

[REG-148867-03]


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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an 
existing final regulation, REG-148867-03, (TD 9327) Disclosure of 
Returns and Return Information in Connection with Written Contracts or 
Agreements for the Acquisition of Property or Services for Tax 
Administration Purposes.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before December 14, 
2010 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Gerald Shields, Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the regulations should be directed to Allan Hopkins at 
Internal Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20224, or at (202) 622-6665, or through the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: REG-148867-03 (TD 9327) (Final) Disclosure of Returns and 
Return Information in Connection with Written Contracts or Agreements 
for the Acquisition of Property or Services for Tax Administration 
Purposes.
    OMB Number: 1545-1821.
    Regulation Project Number: REG-148867-03.
    Abstract: The final regulations clarify that redisclosures or 
returns and return information by contractors to agents or 
subcontractors are permissible, and that the penalty provisions, 
written notification requirements, and safeguard requirements are 
applicable to these agents and subcontractors. Section 301.6103(n)-1(d) 
of the final regulations require that contractors, agents, and 
subcontractors who receive returns or

[[Page 63544]]

return information under the final regulations must provide written 
notice to their officers and employees of the purposes for which 
returns or return information may be used and of the potential civil 
and criminal penalties for unauthorized inspections or disclosures, 
including informing them of the imposition of punitive damages in the 
case of a willful inspection or disclosure or an inspection or 
disclosure which is the result of gross negligence. Section 
301.6103(n)-1(e)(3) of the final regulations require that before the 
execution of a contract or agreement for the acquisition of property or 
services under which returns or return information will be disclosed, 
the contract or agreement must be made available to the IRS.
    Current Actions: There is no change to this existing regulation.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions and Federal, state, local or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 0.1 hr.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250.
    The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of 
information covered by this notice:
    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: October 8, 2010.
Allan Hopkins,
Tax Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2010-25947 Filed 10-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P