[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23903-23904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09445]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

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 June 24, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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, 
Headquarters: 6K041, Washington, DC, 20233; telephone: 301.763.5635; 
facsimile: 301.763.6833; email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 23904]]

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the Quarterly Summary of State and Local 
Government Tax Revenue, using the F-71 (Quarterly Survey of Property 
Tax Collections), F-72 (Quarterly Survey of State Tax Collections), and 
F-73 (Quarterly Survey of Non-Property Taxes) forms. The Quarterly 
Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue provides quarterly 
estimates of state and local government tax revenue at the national 
level, as well as detailed tax revenue data for individual states. The 
information contained in this survey is the most current information 
available on a nationwide basis for government tax collections.
    The Census Bureau needs state and local tax data to publish 
benchmark statistics on 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.
    Tax collection data are used to measure economic activity for the 
Nation as a whole, as well as for comparison among the various states. 
Economists and public policy analysts use the data to assess general 
economic conditions and state and local government financial 
activities.
    The Census Bureau is requesting a revision to the F-73 form, which 
surveys local governments on the non-property taxes they collect. The 
current form will be reduced from eleven questions to three questions 
on the revised form which will cover only general sales and gross 
receipts taxes, personal income taxes, and corporate income taxes; 
eliminating: motor fuel sales, public utilities, alcohol sales, tobacco 
sales, motor vehicle licenses and operator's licenses, and all other 
non-property taxes.
    The Quarterly Survey of Non-Property Taxes (Form F-73) will be 
mailed to a sample of approximately 1,800 local tax collection agencies 
known to have substantial collections of local general sales and/or 
local individual/corporate income taxes every quarter. The sample size 
could potentially be reduced after the revision of the form. 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.
    The Quarterly Survey of Property Tax Collections (Form F-71) will 
be mailed to a sample of approximately 5,500 local tax collection 
agencies known to have substantial collections of property tax.
    The Quarterly Survey of State Tax Collections (Form F-72) will be 
sent to each of the 50 state governments.

II. Method of Collection

    F-71 and F-73 survey data will be collected via mail-out/mail-back 
questionnaires, which are also available on the Internet. Respondents 
may choose to mail, fax, or report their data online. Data for the F-72 
survey are collected via form or compilation of data in coordination 
with the state government revenue office. In addition to reporting 
current quarter data, respondents may report data for the previous 
eight quarters or submit revisions to their previously submitted data.
    In those instances when we are not able to obtain a response, we 
conduct follow-up operations using email and phone calls.
    Nonresponse weighting adjustments are used to adjust for any 
unreported units in the sample from the latest available data.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0112.
    Form Number: F-71, F-72, F-73.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Local and State governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,350.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,700.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $347,067.
    Respondents 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: April 17, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-09445 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P