Department of the Treasury November 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 Bureau of the Public Debt within the Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning collections of information required to comply with the terms and conditions of FHA debentures.

This document contains the final regulations relating to options granted under an employee stock purchase plan as defined in section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). These final regulations affect certain taxpayers who participate in the transfer of stock pursuant to the exercise of options granted under an employee stock purchase plan. These final regulations provide guidance to assist taxpayers in complying with section 423 in addition to clarifying certain rules regarding options granted under an employee stock purchase plan. This document also contains final regulations under sections 421, 422 and 424 of the Code.

FinCEN is issuing this final rule to amend the procedures for publicly issuing an administrative ruling\1\ relating to the Bank Secrecy Act (``BSA''). Reliance on these administrative rulings is limited to persons who are similarly situated to the original recipient of an applicable administrative ruling. To disseminate its interpretations in a more timely and efficient manner, FinCEN will use its website to make these administrative rulings available to the public.\2\

FinCEN is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the relevant Bank Secrecy Act (``BSA'') information sharing rules to allow certain foreign law enforcement agencies, and State and local law enforcement agencies, to submit requests for information to financial institutions. The rule also clarifies that FinCEN itself, on its own behalf and on behalf of other appropriate components of the Department of the Treasury, may submit such requests. Modification of the information sharing rules is a part of the Department of the Treasury's continuing effort to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies.

This document contains a correction to a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-155929-06) that was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, September 24, 2009. The proposed regulations provide further guidance regarding the requirements to qualify as a Type III supporting organization that is operated in connection with one or more supported organizations.

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 976, Claim for Deficiency Dividends Deductions by a Personal Holding Company, Regulated Investment Company, or Real Estate Investment Trust.

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, LR-100-78 (T.D. 7918), Creditability of Foreign Taxes (Sec. Sec. 1.901-2 and 1.901-2A).

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') is removing the name of two entities and one individual from the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism. The entities: BARAKAAT INTERNATIONAL and BARAKAAT INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION, were designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224 on November 7, 2001 and the individual: PATRICIA VINCK, was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224 on January 22, 2003.

The Charter for the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) will renew for a two-year period beginning October 23, 2009.

Pursuant to United States Code, Title 31, section 5135(b)(8)(C), the United States Mint announces the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) public meeting scheduled for November 12, 2009.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury is issuing this final rule, ``Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines,'' as enforcement guidance for persons subject to the requirements of U.S. sanctions statutes, Executive orders, and regulations. This rule was published as an interim final rule with request for comments on September 8, 2008. This final rule sets forth the Enforcement Guidelines that OFAC will follow in determining an appropriate enforcement response to apparent violations of U.S. economic sanctions programs that OFAC enforces. These Enforcement Guidelines are published as an Appendix to the Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') is publishing the names of 23 individuals and entities whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers.

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 706-A, United States Additional Estate Tax Return.

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 a final regulation, REG-252936-96 (TD 8780), Rewards for Information Relating to Violations of Internal Revenue Laws (section 301.7623-1).

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-209322-82 (TD 8841), Return of Partnership Income (Sec. 1.6031(a)-1).

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 Notice 2009-83, Credit for Carbon Dioxide Sequestration under Section 45Q.

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 Revenue Procedure 2000-41, Change in Minimum Funding Method.

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 8802, Application for United States Residency Certification.

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 8870, Information Return for Transfers Associated With Certain Personal Benefit Contracts.

This document contains corrections to final regulations (TD 9465) that were published in the Federal Register on Monday, September 28, 2009 (74 FR 49315) concerning the determination of the interest expense deduction of foreign corporations engaged in a trade or business within the United States. These final regulations conform the interest expense rules to recent U.S. Income Tax Treaty agreements and adopt other changes to improve compliance.

This document provides an additional 30 days for interested parties to submit comments on the proposal to amend title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations to preclude the filing of substitution drawback claims for internal revenue excise tax paid on imported merchandise in situations where no excise tax was paid upon the substituted merchandise or where the substituted merchandise is the subject of a different claim for refund or drawback of excise tax under any provision of the Internal Revenue Code. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on October 15, 2009, with comments due on or before November 16, 2009. A related proposed rulemaking prepared by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) within the Department of the Treasury was published in the same edition of the Federal Register, with comments due on or before December 14, 2009. In an effort to provide the public with equal opportunity to comment on these related proposals, CBP is extending the comment period to December 14, 2009.

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comments concerning an information collection titled ``Bank Secrecy Act/Money Laundering Risk Assessment'' (a.k.a. Money Laundering Risk (MLR) System).