Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements and Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements, 56284-56285 [2019-22843]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
56284
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 203 / Monday, October 21, 2019 / Notices
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: September 24, 2019.
Philippe Thomas,
Supervisory Tax Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2019–22844 Filed 10–18–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900–0018]
Agency Information Collection Activity
Under OMB Review: Application for
Accreditation as Service Organization
Representative
Office of General Counsel,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, this notice announces that the
Office of General Counsel (OGC),
Department of Veterans Affairs, will
submit the collection of information
abstracted below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The PRA
submission describes the nature of the
information collection and its expected
cost and burden and it includes the
actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before November 20, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
on the collection of information through
www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:52 Oct 18, 2019
Jkt 250001
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, Attn:
VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW,
Washington, DC 20503 or sent through
electronic mail to oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB
Control No. 2900–0018’’ in any
correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Danny S. Green, Enterprise Records
Service (005R1B), Department of
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 421–
1354 or email danny.green2@va.gov.
Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–
0018’’ in any correspondence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5901, 5902, 5904;
38 CFR 14.629, 14.633.
Title: Application for Accreditation as
Service Organization Representative.
OMB Control Number: 2900–0018.
Type of Review: Reinstatement of a
previously approved collection.
Abstract: Service organizations are
required to file an application with VA
to establish eligibility for accreditation
for representatives of that organization
to represent benefit claimants before
VA. VA Form 21 is completed by
service organizations to establish
accreditation for representatives and
recertify the qualifications of accredited
representatives.
Organizations requesting cancellation
of a representative’s accreditation based
on misconduct, incompetence, or
resignation to avoid cancellation of
accreditation based upon misconduct or
incompetence are required to inform VA
of the specific reason for the
cancellation request. VA will use the
information collected to determine
whether service organizations’
representatives continue to meet
regulatory eligibility requirements to
ensure claimants have qualified
representatives to assist in the
preparation, presentation and
prosecution of their claims for benefits.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on this collection
of information was published at: Vol.
84, No. 143, Thursday, July 25, 2019,
pages 35929 and 35930.
Affected Public: Individuals, not-forprofit institutions, and state, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,013
hours (650 hours for new applicants,
350 hours for recertifications, and 13
hours for accreditation cancellation
information responses).
PO 00000
Frm 00125
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Estimated Average Burden per
Respondent: 13 minutes (15 minutes for
new applicants, 10 minutes for
recertifications, and 60 minutes for
accreditation cancellation information
responses).
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
4,713 (2,600 new applicants, 2,100
recertifications, and 13 accreditation
cancellation information responses).
By direction of the Secretary.
Danny S. Green,
Interim VA Clearance Officer, Office of
Quality, Performance and Risk, Department
of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019–22845 Filed 10–18–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900–0605]
Agency Information Collection Activity
Under OMB Review: Application for
Accreditation as a Claims Agent or
Attorney, Filing of Representatives’
Fee Agreements and Motions for
Review of Such Fee Agreements
Office of General Counsel,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, this notice announces that the
Office of General Counsel (OGC),
Department of Veterans Affairs, will
submit the collection of information
abstracted below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The PRA
submission describes the nature of the
information collection and its expected
cost and burden and it includes the
actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before November 20, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
on the collection of information through
www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, Attn:
VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW,
Washington, DC 20503 or sent through
electronic mail to oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB
Control No. 2900–0605’’ in any
correspondence.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Danny S. Green, Enterprise Records
Service (005R1B), Department of
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 421–
1354 or email danny.green2@va.gov.
E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM
21OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 203 / Monday, October 21, 2019 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–
0605’’ in any correspondence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5901, 5904; 38
CFR 14.629, 14.636.
Title: Application for Accreditation as
a Claims Agent or Attorney, Filing of
Representatives’ Fee Agreements and
Motions for Review of Such Fee
Agreements.
OMB Control Number: 2900–0605.
Type of Review: Reinstatement of a
previously approved collection.
Abstract: Applicants seeking
accreditation as claims agents or
attorneys to represent benefits claimants
before VA must complete VA Form 21a.
The applicant is required to file the
application with OGC to establish initial
eligibility for accreditation. The
information requested includes basic
identifying information, as well as
certain information concerning training
and experience, military service, and
employment. The information is used to
evaluate qualifications, ensure against
conflicts of interest, and to establish that
statutory and regulatory eligibility
requirements, e.g., good character and
reputation, are met. If a potential area of
concern is identified on the application,
additional information may be
requested. Applicants who become
accredited as agents and attorneys may
not lawfully represent claimants
without completing and maintaining
accreditation requirements. The data is
used to determine the applicant’s
eligibility for accreditation as a claims
agent or attorney. The information
collected with regard to an attorney or
agent’s good standing with other courts,
bars, and Federal and State agencies and
completion of their ongoing CLE
requirements is used by OGC in
monitoring accredited attorneys and
agents to determine whether they
continue to have the appropriate
character and reputation and that they
remain fit to prepare, present, and
prosecute VA benefit claims.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:52 Oct 18, 2019
Jkt 250001
The data collected under Filing of
Representatives’ Fee Agreements is used
by OGC to associate the fee agreement
with the attorney or agent of record and
for potential use in a reasonableness
review. The fee agreement information
is used by VA’s Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) to associate the
fee agreement with the claimant’s
claims file for potential use in
processing as the direct payment of a fee
from the claimant’s past-due benefits
award. The information provided in the
fee agreements are used by both VBA
and OGC to determine whether they are
in compliance with the statutes and
regulations governing paid
representation. The data collected under
Motions for Review of Such Fee
Agreements is used when a motion is
filed by a claimant or raised sua sponte
by VA to determine the reasonableness
of an agent or attorney fee from a
claimant’s award of VA benefits. Also,
when a claimant receives an award of
benefits and has retained more than one
attorney or agent who has been found
eligible for direct payment of fees, the
data is used to determine each of the
attorney’s or agent’s contribution to and
responsibility for the ultimate outcome
of the claimant’s claim.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on this collection
of information was published at: Vol.
84, No. 143, Thursday, July 25, 2019,
pages 35931 and 35932.
Affected Public: Individuals and
businesses or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Annual Burden:
a. Application for Accreditation as a
Claims Agent, VA Form 21a: 2,137.5
hours (975 hours for initial responses by
attorneys, 225 hours for initial
responses by non-attorneys, 187.5 hours
PO 00000
Frm 00126
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
56285
for follow up responses by nonattorneys, and 750 hours for
recertifications by accredited attorneys
and agents).
b. Filing of Representatives’ Fee
Agreements: 3,125 hours (750 hours for
first time filers and 2,375 hours for
repeat filers).
c. Motions for Review of Such Fee
Agreements: 420 hours.
Estimated Average Burden per
Respondent:
a. Application for Accreditation as a
Claims Agent or Attorney, VA Form 21a:
20 minutes (45 minutes for initial
responses by attorneys, 45 minutes for
initial responses by non-attorneys, 45
minutes for follow up responses by nonattorneys, and 10 minutes for
recertifications by accredited attorneys
and agents).
b. Filing of Representatives’ Fee
Agreements: 13 minutes (1 hour for first
time filers and 10 minutes for repeat
filers).
c. Motions for Review of Such Fee
Agreements: 2 hours.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
a. Application for Accreditation as a
Claims Agent, VA Form 21a: 6,350
(1,300 initial responses by attorneys,
300 initial responses by non-attorneys,
250 follow up responses by nonattorneys, and 4,500 recertifications by
accredited attorneys and agents).
b. Filing of Representatives’ Fee
Agreements: 15,000 (750 first time filers
and 14,250 repeat filers).
c. Motions for Review of Such Fee
Agreements: 210.
By direction of the Secretary.
Danny S. Green,
Interim VA Clearance Officer, Office of
Quality, Performance and Risk, Department
of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019–22843 Filed 10–18–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM
21OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 203 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56284-56285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22843]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900-0605]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review:
Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, Filing of
Representatives' Fee Agreements and Motions for Review of Such Fee
Agreements
AGENCY: Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995,
this notice announces that the Office of General Counsel (OGC),
Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of
information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature
of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it
includes the actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 20, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information
through www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725
17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0605'' in any correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny S. Green, Enterprise Records
Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 421-1354 or email [email protected].
[[Page 56285]]
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0605'' in any correspondence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5901, 5904; 38 CFR 14.629, 14.636.
Title: Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney,
Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements and Motions for Review of
Such Fee Agreements.
OMB Control Number: 2900-0605.
Type of Review: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.
Abstract: Applicants seeking accreditation as claims agents or
attorneys to represent benefits claimants before VA must complete VA
Form 21a. The applicant is required to file the application with OGC to
establish initial eligibility for accreditation. The information
requested includes basic identifying information, as well as certain
information concerning training and experience, military service, and
employment. The information is used to evaluate qualifications, ensure
against conflicts of interest, and to establish that statutory and
regulatory eligibility requirements, e.g., good character and
reputation, are met. If a potential area of concern is identified on
the application, additional information may be requested. Applicants
who become accredited as agents and attorneys may not lawfully
represent claimants without completing and maintaining accreditation
requirements. The data is used to determine the applicant's eligibility
for accreditation as a claims agent or attorney. The information
collected with regard to an attorney or agent's good standing with
other courts, bars, and Federal and State agencies and completion of
their ongoing CLE requirements is used by OGC in monitoring accredited
attorneys and agents to determine whether they continue to have the
appropriate character and reputation and that they remain fit to
prepare, present, and prosecute VA benefit claims.
The data collected under Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements
is used by OGC to associate the fee agreement with the attorney or
agent of record and for potential use in a reasonableness review. The
fee agreement information is used by VA's Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) to associate the fee agreement with the claimant's
claims file for potential use in processing as the direct payment of a
fee from the claimant's past-due benefits award. The information
provided in the fee agreements are used by both VBA and OGC to
determine whether they are in compliance with the statutes and
regulations governing paid representation. The data collected under
Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements is used when a motion is
filed by a claimant or raised sua sponte by VA to determine the
reasonableness of an agent or attorney fee from a claimant's award of
VA benefits. Also, when a claimant receives an award of benefits and
has retained more than one attorney or agent who has been found
eligible for direct payment of fees, the data is used to determine each
of the attorney's or agent's contribution to and responsibility for the
ultimate outcome of the claimant's claim.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of
information was published at: Vol. 84, No. 143, Thursday, July 25,
2019, pages 35931 and 35932.
Affected Public: Individuals and businesses or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Annual Burden:
a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent, VA Form 21a:
2,137.5 hours (975 hours for initial responses by attorneys, 225 hours
for initial responses by non-attorneys, 187.5 hours for follow up
responses by non-attorneys, and 750 hours for recertifications by
accredited attorneys and agents).
b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements: 3,125 hours (750
hours for first time filers and 2,375 hours for repeat filers).
c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements: 420 hours.
Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:
a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent or Attorney, VA
Form 21a: 20 minutes (45 minutes for initial responses by attorneys, 45
minutes for initial responses by non-attorneys, 45 minutes for follow
up responses by non-attorneys, and 10 minutes for recertifications by
accredited attorneys and agents).
b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements: 13 minutes (1 hour
for first time filers and 10 minutes for repeat filers).
c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements: 2 hours.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
a. Application for Accreditation as a Claims Agent, VA Form 21a:
6,350 (1,300 initial responses by attorneys, 300 initial responses by
non-attorneys, 250 follow up responses by non-attorneys, and 4,500
recertifications by accredited attorneys and agents).
b. Filing of Representatives' Fee Agreements: 15,000 (750 first
time filers and 14,250 repeat filers).
c. Motions for Review of Such Fee Agreements: 210.
By direction of the Secretary.
Danny S. Green,
Interim VA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Performance and Risk,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-22843 Filed 10-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
