Department of the Treasury March 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the inaugural meeting of the ``National Financial Education Network'' of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission. The Commission was established by the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act (Title V of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003).

These proposed regulations provide guidance relating to the determination of the amount of taxes paid for purposes of section 901. The proposed regulations affect taxpayers that claim direct and indirect foreign tax credits. This document also provides notice of a public hearing.

This document contains final regulations which provide the translation rates that must be used when translating into dollars certain items and amounts transferred by a qualified business unit (QBU) to its home office or parent corporation for purposes of computing dollar approximate separate transactions method (DASTM) gain or loss. This regulation is necessary to provide guidance under section 985 regarding the proper translation rates that must be used under the DASTM method. Taxpayers affected by these regulations are taxpayers with QBUs required to use the DASTM method of accounting described in Sec. 1.985-3.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, PS-73-89 (T.D. 8370), Excise Tax on Chemicals That Deplete the Ozone Layer and on Products Containing Such Chemicals (Sec. Sec. 52.4682-1(b), 52.4682-2(b), 52,4682-2(d), 52.4682-3(c), 52.4682-3(g), and 52.4682-4(f)).

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, IA-120-86 (TD 8584), Capitalization of Interest (Sec. Sec. 1.263A-8(b)(2)(iii), 1.263A-9(d)(1), 1.263A- 9(e)(1), 1.263A-9(f)(1)(ii), 1.263A-9(f)(2)(iv), 1.63A-9(g)(2)(iv)(C), 1.263A-9(e)(I) and 1.263A-9(g)(3)(iv)).

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning two existing notices, Notice 88-30, Diesel Fuel and Aviation Fuel Taxes Imposed at Wholesale Level, and Notice 88-132, Diesel and Aviation Fuel Taxes; Rules Effective 1/1/89.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, IA-30-95 (TD 8672), Reporting of Nonpayroll Withheld Liabilities (Sec. 31.6011(a)-4).

This document contains final regulations relating to the capitalization of costs under the simplified service cost method and the simplified production method provided by the Income Tax Regulations. For taxpayers that use the simplified service cost method or the simplified production method, the regulations clarify when self- constructed assets are produced on a routine and repetitive basis in the ordinary course of their businesses.

The OCC, Board, FDIC, OTS, NCUA, FTC, CFTC, and SEC (the Agencies) are proposing amendments to their rules that implement the privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB Act), Title V, Subtitle A. These rules require financial institutions to provide initial and annual privacy notices to their customers. As required under section 728 of the Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006 (Regulatory Relief Act or Act), the Agencies are proposing a safe harbor model privacy form that financial institutions may use to provide disclosures under the privacy rules. Institutions that use notices based on the Sample Clauses currently contained in most of the privacy rules would lose the benefit of a safe harbor for compliance with respect to those notices if they are provided more than one year following the date of publication of a final rule. Similarly, institutions that use notices based on the Sample Clauses in the SEC's privacy rule could no longer rely on the guidance provided with respect to those notices if they are provided more than one year following the date of publication of a final rule.

An open meeting of the Area 6 committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service. The TAP will use citizen input to make recommendations to the Internal Revenue Service.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, REG-153841-02, Election Out of GST Deemed Allocations.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 4952, Investment Interest Expense Deduction.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8819, Dollar Election Under Section 985.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite comment on a proposed renewal, without change, to information collection requirements found in existing regulations imposing a special measure against the Commercial Bank of Syria, including its subsidiary Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern. This request for comments is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

This is Supplement No.7 to the Treasury Department Circular 570, 2006 Revision, published June 20, 2006, at 71 FR 37694.

In response to a request from a viticulture industry group, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau extends the comment period for Notice No. 71, Proposed Establishment of the Paso Robles Westside Viticultural Area, a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2007, for an additional 30 days.

An open meeting of the Area 1 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, PS-74-89 (TD 8282), Election of Reduced Research Credit (Sec. 1.280C-4).

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final regulation, PS-25-94 (TD 8686), Requirements to Ensure Collection of Section 2056A Estate Tax (Sec. 20.2056A-2).

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing notice of proposed rulemaking and temporary regulation, REG- 209020-86 (TD 8210), Foreign Tax Credit; Notification and Adjustment Due to Foreign Tax Redeterminations (Sec. Sec. 1.905-3T, 1.905-4T, 1.905-5T and 301.6689-IT).

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8855, Election To Treat a Qualified Revocable Trust as Party of an Estate.

This document proposes to amend title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations to set forth provisions implementing Remote Location Filing (RLF). The proposed changes implement the terms of section 414 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as added by section 631 within the Customs Modernization provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, and would allow a RLF filer to electronically file with CBP those entries and related information that CBP can process in a completely electronic data interchange system from a location other than where the goods will arrive.

In this final rule, OTS is changing its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations in four areas to reestablish uniformity between its regulations and those of the other federal banking agencies. OTS is making these revisions to its CRA rule to promote consistency and help facilitate objective evaluations of CRA performance across the banking and thrift industries. Consistent standards will allow the public to make more effective comparisons of bank and thrift CRA performance. Additionally, OTS is incorporating changes that reinforce CRA objectives consistent with the ongoing performance of savings associations in meeting the financial services needs of the communities they serve. To advance these objectives OTS is aligning its CRA rule with the rule adopted by the banking agencies by: (1) Eliminating the option of alternative weights for lending, investment, and service under the large, retail savings association test; (2) defining small savings associations with between $250 million and $1 billion in assets as ``intermediate small savings associations'' and establishing a new community development test for them; (3) indexing the asset threshold for small and intermediate small savings associations annually based on changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI); and (4) clarifying the impact on a savings association's CRA rating if OTS finds evidence of discrimination or other illegal credit practices.