[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62673-62674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26259]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request Submitted 
for Public Comment; Comment Request for Disclosure of Returns and 
Return Information to Designee of Taxpayer

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the public and other 
Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction

[[Page 62674]]

Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning the 
disclosure of returns and return information to a designee of a 
taxpayer.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before February 4, 
2019 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Carolyn Brown, Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 6236, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20224. Requests for additional information or copies of the regulations 
should be directed to R. Joseph Durbala, at Internal Revenue Service, 
Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20224, or through 
the internet, at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Disclosure of Returns and Return Information to Designee of 
Taxpayer.
    OMB Number: 1545-1816.
    Regulation Project Number: TD 9054, as amended by TD 9618.
    Abstract: Under section 6103(a), returns and return information are 
confidential unless disclosure is otherwise authorized by the Code. 
Section 6103(c), as amended in 1996 by section 1207 of the Taxpayer 
Bill of Rights II, Public Law 104-168 (110 Stat. 1452), authorizes the 
IRS to disclose returns and return information to such person or 
persons as the taxpayer may designate in a request for or consent to 
disclosure, or to any other person at the taxpayer's request to the 
extent necessary to comply with a request for information or assistance 
made by the taxpayer to such other person. Disclosure is permitted 
subject to such requirements and conditions as may be prescribed by 
regulations. With the amendment in 1996, Congress eliminated the 
longstanding requirement that disclosures to designees of the taxpayer 
must be pursuant to the written request or consent of the taxpayer.
    Current Actions: There is no change to the burden previously 
approved.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other not-
for-profit institutions, farms, and Federal, state, local or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 12 min.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 800.
    The following paragraph applies to all 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 if 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.
    Desired Focus of Comments: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is 
particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., by permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the ICR for OMB approval of the extension of the 
information collection; they will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Approved: November 27, 2018.
R. Joseph Durbala,
IRS Tax Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2018-26259 Filed 12-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P