Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Forms 9779, 9783, 9787, and 9789, 13466-13467 [2015-05660]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 49 / Friday, March 13, 2015 / Notices
dollar deals related to Venezuelan
corruption and represented that
connections with BPA would facilitate
these transactions.
For example, a TPML (‘‘TPML 4’’),
who has worked with the Sinaloa cartel,
facilitated the transfer of bulk cash
derived from narcotics trafficking in the
United States and facilitated financial
transactions involving the proceeds of
other crimes. TPML 4 intentionally
bolstered connections with BPA to
attract money laundering clients and
requested that clients send smaller
transfers through accounts at other
institutions and to only use accounts at
BPA for large transactions. In
communications with co-conspirators,
TPML 4 advertised a relationship with
BPA in attempts to attract potential
money laundering deals. TPML 4 told
clients that this relationship with BPA
and other government officials would
ensure that their transactions would not
be scrutinized by the financial
community. In addition, TPML 4 also
marketed services to potential clients by
providing specific wire transfer
instructions for accounts at BPA.
TPML 4 used many methods to avoid
detection by law enforcement, including
planning to increase operations during
the U.S. government shutdown in 2013.
TPML 4 used many Panamanian,
Spanish, and Swiss shelf corporations to
attract clients. Several of these shelf
corporations had bank accounts,
including at BPA.
BPA’s failure to monitor transactions
for apparent red flag activity attracts
TPMLs. Many third-party money
laundering transactions conducted
through BPA lack an apparent business
purpose and would be identified as high
risk by a bank with sufficient AML/CFT
controls. For example, BPA processed
millions of U.S. dollar transactions that
listed BPA’s Andorran address for the
originator’s or beneficiary’s address.
Although there may be rare occasions
when use of the bank’s address as a
bank customer’s address of record is
legitimate, the processing of a high
percentage of transactions not
containing accurate customer address
information indicates failure to conduct
sufficient due diligence on a customer,
failure to adequately monitor
transactions, or possible complicity in
money laundering by disguising the
origin of funds. BPA also attracts TPMLs
by knowingly providing services to shell
and shelf companies and unlicensed
money transmitters. As noted above,
TPMLs rely on shell and shelf
companies to shield the identities of
their clients engaged in criminal
activity. BPA’s facilitation of this highrisk business allows TPMLs to obscure
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the beneficial ownership of these
accounts.
BPA accesses the U.S. financial
system through direct correspondent
accounts held at four U.S. banks.
Between approximately 2009 through
2014, BPA processed hundreds of
millions of dollars through its U.S.
correspondents. These transactions
contained numerous indicators of highrisk money laundering typologies,
including widespread shell company
activity, unlicensed money transmitters,
and other high-risk business customers.
For example, BPA processed tens of
millions of dollars on behalf of
unlicensed money transmitters through
one U.S. correspondent. The U.S.
correspondent requested that BPA sign
an agreement to discontinue processing
these transactions through its account.
After these concerns arose, the U.S.
correspondent closed BPA’s account.
In addition, 62 percent of BPA’s
outgoing transactions through one U.S.
correspondent bank involved only four
high-risk customers. These customers,
deemed high-risk by the U.S.
correspondent bank, included a shell
company, an Internet business, and two
non-bank financial institutions.
Between approximately 2007 and 2012,
BPA also used its U.S. correspondents
to send or receive wire transfers totaling
more than $50 million for Panamanian
shell companies that share directors,
agents, and the same address. These
transfers involved large, round dollar
amounts and did not specify a purpose
for the transactions. When U.S.
correspondents requested additional
information, BPA either failed to
respond or provided extremely limited
information.
IV. The Extent to Which BPA Is Used
for Legitimate Business Purposes
It is difficult to assess on the
information available the extent to
which BPA is used for legitimate
business purposes. BPA provides
services in private banking, personal
banking, and corporate banking. These
services include typical bank products
such as savings accounts, corporate
accounts, credit cards, and financing.
BPA provides services to high-risk
customers including international
foreign operated shell companies,
businesses likely engaged in unlicensed
money transmission, and senior foreign
political officials. Because of the
demonstrated cooperation of high level
management at BPA with TPMLs, BPA’s
legitimate business activity is at high
risk of being abused by money
launderers.
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V. The Extent to Which This Action Is
Sufficient To Guard Against
International Money Laundering and
Other Financial Crimes
FinCEN’s March 13, 2015 proposed
imposition of the fifth special measure,
pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 5318A(b)(5),
would guard against the international
money laundering and other financial
crimes described above directly by
restricting the ability of BPA to access
the U.S. financial system to process
transactions, and indirectly by public
notification to the international
financial community of the risks posed
by dealing with BPA and TPMLs.
Dated: March 6, 2015.
Jennifer Shasky Calvery,
Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network.
[FR Doc. 2015–05911 Filed 3–12–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request for Forms 9779, 9783, 9787,
and 9789
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
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, Pub.
L. 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
Currently, the IRS is soliciting
comments concerning Forms 9779,
9783, 9787, and 9789, Electronic
Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before May 12, 2015 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 or
copies of the forms and instructions
should be directed to LaNita Van Dyke,
Internal Revenue Service, Room 6517,
1111 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20224, or through the
internet at Lanita.VanDyke@irs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
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Title: Electronic Federal Tax Payment
System (EFTPS).
OMB Number: 1545–1467.
Form Number: Forms 9779, 9783,
9787, and 9789.
Abstract: These forms are used by
business and individual taxpayers to
enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax
Payment System (EFTPS). EFTPS is an
electronic remittance processing system
the Service uses to accept electronically
transmitted federal tax payments.
EFTPS (1) establishes and maintains a
taxpayer data base which includes
entity information from the taxpayers or
their banks, (2) initiates the transfer of
the tax payment amount from the
taxpayer’s bank account, (3) validates
the entity information and selected
elements for each taxpayer, and (4)
electronically transmits taxpayer
payment data to the IRS.
Current Actions: The total burden
hours have decreased. The burden hours
have changed from 4,470,000 to
4,350,000 with a decrease total of
120,000 hours. The decrease is due to
each Spanish form becoming obsolete.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Individuals, business
or other for-profit organizations, and
state, local or tribal governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
4,350,000.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 726,450.
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. Comments
will be 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 has 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 the use of
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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 23, 2015.
Christie Preston,
IRS Tax Analyst.
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Sanctions Actions Pursuant to
Executive Order 13224
Office of Foreign Assets
Control, Treasury.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Treasury Department’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
is removing the name of 1 individual
and 8 entities, whose property and
interests in property were blocked
pursuant to E.O.13224, from the list of
Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons (SDN List).
DATES: OFAC’s actions described in this
notice were effective February 26, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Associate Director for Global Targeting,
tel.: 202/622–2420, Assistant Director
for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation,
tel.: 202/622–2490, Assistant Director
for Licensing, tel.: 202/622–2480, Office
of Foreign Assets Control, or Chief
Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), tel.:
202/622–2410, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of the Treasury
(not toll free numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Electronic and Facsimile Availability
The SDN List and additional
information concerning OFAC sanctions
programs are available from OFAC’s
Web site (www.treas.gov/ofac). Certain
general information pertaining to
OFAC’s sanctions programs is also
available via facsimile through a 24hour fax-on-demand service, tel.: 202/
622–0077.
Notice of OFAC Actions
On February 26, 2015, OFAC removed
the following 1 individual and 8 entities
from the SDN List.
Individuals
1. NADA, Youssef (a.k.a. NADA,
Youssef M.; a.k.a. NADA, Youssef
Mustafa), Via Per Arogno 32,
Compione d’Italia CH–6911,
Switzerland; Via Arogno 32,
Frm 00146
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Compione d’Italia CH–6911, Italy;
Via Riasc 4, Compione d’Italia CH–
6911, Switzerland; DOB 17 May
1931; alt. DOB 17 May 1937; POB
Alexandria, Egypt; citizen Tunisia
(individual) [SDGT].
Entities
[FR Doc. 2015–05660 Filed 3–12–15; 8:45 am]
PO 00000
13467
1. ASAT TRUST REG., Altenbach 8,
Vaduz 9490, Liechtenstein [SDGT].
2. BA TAQWA FOR COMMERCE AND
REAL ESTATE COMPANY
LIMITED (n.k.a. HOCHBURG, AG),
Vaduz, Liechtenstein; formerly c/o
Asat Trust reg., Vaduz,
Liechtenstein [SDGT].
3. BANK AL TAQWA LIMITED (a.k.a.
AL TAQWA BANK; a.k.a. BANK
AL TAQWA), P.O. Box N–4877,
Nassau, Bahamas, The; c/o Arthur
D. Hanna & Company, 10 Deveaux
Street, Nassau, Bahamas, The
[SDGT].
4. NADA INTERNATIONAL ANSTALT,
Vaduz, Liechtenstein; formerly c/o
Asat Trust reg., Vaduz,
Liechtenstein [SDGT].
5. NADA MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATION SA (f.k.a. AL
TAQWA MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATION SA), Viale
Stefano Franscini 22, Lugano CH–
6900 TI, Switzerland [SDGT].
6. WALDENBERG, AG (f.k.a. AL
TAQWA TRADE, PROPERTY AND
INDUSTRY; f.k.a. AL TAQWA
TRADE, PROPERTY AND
INDUSTRY COMPANY LIMITED;
f.k.a. AL TAQWA TRADE,
PROPERTY AND INDUSTRY
ESTABLISHMENT; f.k.a. HIMMAT
ESTABLISHMENT), c/o Asat Trust
Reg., Altenbach 8, Vaduz 9490,
Liechtenstein; Via Posero, 2,
Compione d’Italia 22060, Italy
[SDGT].
7. YOUSSEF M. NADA, Via Riasc 4,
Campione d’Italia I CH–6911,
Switzerland [SDGT].
8. YOUSSEF M. NADA & CO.
GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H. (a.k.a.
YOUSSEF M. NADA AND CO.
GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.), Kaernter
Ring 2/2/5/22, Vienna 1010, Austria
[SDGT].
All property and interests in property
of the individual and entities that are in
or hereafter come within the United
States or the possession or control of
United States persons are now
unblocked.
Dated: February 26, 2015.
John E. Smith,
Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets
Control.
[FR Doc. 2015–05771 Filed 3–12–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13466-13467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05660]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Forms 9779, 9783, 9787,
and 9789
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning
Forms 9779, 9783, 9787, and 9789, Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
(EFTPS).
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before May 12, 2015 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 or
copies of the forms and instructions should be directed to LaNita Van
Dyke, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6517, 1111 Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the internet at
Lanita.VanDyke@irs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 13467]]
Title: Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).
OMB Number: 1545-1467.
Form Number: Forms 9779, 9783, 9787, and 9789.
Abstract: These forms are used by business and individual taxpayers
to enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). EFTPS
is an electronic remittance processing system the Service uses to
accept electronically transmitted federal tax payments. EFTPS (1)
establishes and maintains a taxpayer data base which includes entity
information from the taxpayers or their banks, (2) initiates the
transfer of the tax payment amount from the taxpayer's bank account,
(3) validates the entity information and selected elements for each
taxpayer, and (4) electronically transmits taxpayer payment data to the
IRS.
Current Actions: The total burden hours have decreased. The burden
hours have changed from 4,470,000 to 4,350,000 with a decrease total of
120,000 hours. The decrease is due to each Spanish form becoming
obsolete.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Individuals, business or other for-profit
organizations, and state, local or tribal governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,350,000.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 726,450.
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.
Comments will be 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 has
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 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 23, 2015.
Christie Preston,
IRS Tax Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2015-05660 Filed 3-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P
