Proposed Information Collection (Removal of Requirement to File Direct-Pay Fee Agreements with the Office of the General Counsel), 7743-7744 [2014-02798]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 27 / Monday, February 10, 2014 / Notices 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 the 637 Registration Program. DATES: Written comments should be received on or before April 11, 2014 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Christie Preston, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information on the burden related to the 637 registration program should be directed to R. Joseph Durbala, (202)–317–5746, at Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the Internet at RJoseph.Durbala@irs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 637 Registration Program. OMB Number: 1545–1835. Form Number: 637 Abstract: The authority for the requirement for registration is found in Internal Revenue Code sections 4101 (Fuel Taxes), 4222 (Retailers and Manufacturers Excise Taxes), 4682 (Ozone-depleting Chemicals Tax), and the regulations. Form 637, Application for Registration (For Certain Excise Tax Activities) is used to apply for excise tax registration for activities under sections 4101, 4222, and 4682. Common activities for which persons are registered include that of a refiner, terminal operator, position holder, throughputter, ultimate vendor, first retail seller of certain heavy vehicles, manufacturer of sport fishing equipment, and to file a claim. The information will be used to make an informed decision on whether the applicant/registrant qualifies for registration. Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the burden associated with the collection tools at this time. However, this request will be used to combine the associated burden of 1545– 0014 into this approval number. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,840. Estimated Average Time per Respondent: 6 hours, 30 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 30,499. The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information covered by this notice: VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:25 Feb 07, 2014 Jkt 232001 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: February 4, 2014. Christie Preston, Supervisory Tax Analyst, Internal Revenue Service. [FR Doc. 2014–02844 Filed 2–7–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4830–01–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900–0605] Proposed Information Collection (Removal of Requirement to File Direct-Pay Fee Agreements with the Office of the General Counsel) Department of Veterans Affairs. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the modification of a collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each modification of a collection of information, including SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7743 each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the removal of the requirement that direct-pay fee agreements be filed with both the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) and OGC. Direct-pay fee agreements would only be filed with the AOJ. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 11, 2014. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Dana Raffaelli (022O), Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20420. Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0605’’ in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Raffaelli at (202) 461–7699 or FAX (202) 273–6404. These are not toll-free numbers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Filing of Representatives’ Fee Agreements. OMB Control Number: 2900–0605 Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstracts: a. Summary of collection of information: Accredited agents and attorneys are required to file with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs agreements for the payment of fees charged for representing claimants before VA. The Secretary is authorized to review these agreements either on his or her own motion or upon the request of the claimant who is a party to the agreement. 38 U.S.C. 5904(c). The purpose of the review is to determine whether the fees charged are excessive or unreasonable. Id. VA regulations delegate the authority to receive and review fee agreements to OGC. 38 CFR 14.636. Subject to certain limitations, attorneys and agents may enter into agreements with claimants that direct VA to withhold representation fees from any past-due benefits VA awards to the claimant and pay the fee directly to the agent or attorney. 38 U.S.C. 5904(d). To process direct payments, VA requires filing a copy of a fee agreement with the local VA regional office where award payments are processed, i.e., the AOJ. 38 CFR 14.636(h)(4). VA is amending § 14.636(g)(3) and (h)(4) to remove the requirement that an agent or attorney file a direct-pay fee agreement with both OGC and the AOJ. The intended effect of this amendment is to require that E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM 10FEN1 7744 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 27 / Monday, February 10, 2014 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES direct-pay fee agreements be submitted only to the AOJ, thereby eliminating duplicate filings by agents and attorneys. In cases where OGC needs to review a direct-pay fee agreement, it can obtain a copy of the agreement from the AOJ. b. Description of need for information and proposed use of information: The information is used by VA in reviewing fee agreements between VA claimants and their representatives to determine whether they are in compliance with the law governing representation and fees, and by VA regional offices in processing direct-fee payment agreements. c. Description of likely respondents: VA-accredited agents and attorneys. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:25 Feb 07, 2014 Jkt 232001 d. Estimated number of respondents: There are currently about 12,600 VAaccredited agents and attorneys. Approximately 1,200 agents and attorneys have filed fee agreements (direct and non-direct) with OGC over the past five years. e. Estimated frequency of responses: OGC receives approximately 11,700 direct-pay fee agreements per year. Therefore, on average, each respondent files approximately 9–10 direct-pay fee agreements with OGC per year, which will be eliminated with this rulemaking. f. Estimated average burden per response: VA estimates an average hour burden reduction of 10 minutes per response for the removal of the PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 duplicate filing of a direct-pay fee agreement with OGC. g. Estimated total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden: VA estimates a total annual burden reduction of 1950 hours for all respondents for the removal of the duplicate filing of a direct-pay fee agreement with OGC. Dated: February 5, 2014. By direction of the Secretary: Crystal Rennie, VA Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2014–02798 Filed 2–7–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM 10FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7743-7744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02798]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0605]


Proposed Information Collection (Removal of Requirement to File 
Direct-Pay Fee Agreements with the Office of the General Counsel)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment 
on the modification of a collection of certain information by the 
agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Federal agencies are 
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
modification of a collection of information, including each proposed 
revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for 
public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments 
on the removal of the requirement that direct-pay fee agreements be 
filed with both the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) and OGC. 
Direct-pay fee agreements would only be filed with the AOJ.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 11, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at 
www.Regulations.gov or to Dana Raffaelli (022O), Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20420. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0605'' in 
any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed 
online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Raffaelli at (202) 461-7699 or 
FAX (202) 273-6404. These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0605
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstracts:
    a. Summary of collection of information: Accredited agents and 
attorneys are required to file with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
agreements for the payment of fees charged for representing claimants 
before VA. The Secretary is authorized to review these agreements 
either on his or her own motion or upon the request of the claimant who 
is a party to the agreement. 38 U.S.C. 5904(c). The purpose of the 
review is to determine whether the fees charged are excessive or 
unreasonable. Id. VA regulations delegate the authority to receive and 
review fee agreements to OGC. 38 CFR 14.636. Subject to certain 
limitations, attorneys and agents may enter into agreements with 
claimants that direct VA to withhold representation fees from any past-
due benefits VA awards to the claimant and pay the fee directly to the 
agent or attorney. 38 U.S.C. 5904(d). To process direct payments, VA 
requires filing a copy of a fee agreement with the local VA regional 
office where award payments are processed, i.e., the AOJ. 38 CFR 
14.636(h)(4). VA is amending Sec.  14.636(g)(3) and (h)(4) to remove 
the requirement that an agent or attorney file a direct-pay fee 
agreement with both OGC and the AOJ. The intended effect of this 
amendment is to require that

[[Page 7744]]

direct-pay fee agreements be submitted only to the AOJ, thereby 
eliminating duplicate filings by agents and attorneys. In cases where 
OGC needs to review a direct-pay fee agreement, it can obtain a copy of 
the agreement from the AOJ.
    b. Description of need for information and proposed use of 
information: The information is used by VA in reviewing fee agreements 
between VA claimants and their representatives to determine whether 
they are in compliance with the law governing representation and fees, 
and by VA regional offices in processing direct-fee payment agreements.
    c. Description of likely respondents: VA-accredited agents and 
attorneys.
    d. Estimated number of respondents: There are currently about 
12,600 VA-accredited agents and attorneys. Approximately 1,200 agents 
and attorneys have filed fee agreements (direct and non-direct) with 
OGC over the past five years.
    e. Estimated frequency of responses: OGC receives approximately 
11,700 direct-pay fee agreements per year. Therefore, on average, each 
respondent files approximately 9-10 direct-pay fee agreements with OGC 
per year, which will be eliminated with this rulemaking.
    f. Estimated average burden per response: VA estimates an average 
hour burden reduction of 10 minutes per response for the removal of the 
duplicate filing of a direct-pay fee agreement with OGC.
    g. Estimated total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden: VA 
estimates a total annual burden reduction of 1950 hours for all 
respondents for the removal of the duplicate filing of a direct-pay fee 
agreement with OGC.

    Dated: February 5, 2014.

    By direction of the Secretary:
Crystal Rennie,
VA Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-02798 Filed 2-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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