Department of Treasury 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document contains final regulations amending the regulations under the gift tax special valuation rules to provide that a unitrust or annuity interest payable for a specified term of years to the grantor, or to the grantor's estate if the grantor dies prior to the expiration of the term, is a qualified interest for the specified term. The final regulations also clarify that the exception treating a spouse's revocable successor interest as a retained qualified interest applies only if the spouse's annuity or unitrust interest, standing alone, would constitute a qualified interest that meets the requirements of Sec. 25.2702-3(d)(3), but for the grantor's revocation power.

This document contains final regulations that clarify that qualified REIT subsidiaries, qualified subchapter S subsidiaries, and single owner eligible entities that are disregarded as entities separate from their owners are treated as separate entities for purposes of any Federal tax liability for which the entity is liable. These regulations affect disregarded entities that are liable for Federal taxes with respect to tax periods during which they were not disregarded or because they are successors or transferees of taxable entities.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, gives notice of a proposed new system of records entitled ``Treasury/IRS 00.009Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) Recorded Quality Review Records.''

This document contains amendments to regulations relating to the capitalization of interest expense incurred in sale and leaseback transactions under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA) safe harbor leasing provisions. The regulations affect taxpayers that provide purchase money obligations in connection with these transactions.

An open meeting of the Earned Income Tax Credit Committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The Committee will be discussing issues pertaining to the IRS administration of the Earned Income Tax Credit.

This document withdraws a notice and request for comments that was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2005 (70 FR 5510) that solicited comments on proposed regulations (REG-154000-04) relating to Diesel Fuel and Kerosene Excise Tax and Dye Injection (OMB No. 1545-1418).

On December 3, 2004, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the ``Fund'') announced in a Notice of Funds Availability (``NOFA'') for the Technical Assistance Component of the CDFI Program (69 FR 70307) that the deadline for applications for Technical Assistance grants for the FY 2005 funding round of the Technical Assistance Component was 5 p.m. ET on January 25, 2005. This notice is to announce that the Fund has established a new application deadline for the FY 2005 funding round of the Technical Assistance Component of the CDFI Program: Technical Assistance Component applications may be submitted up to 5 p.m. ET on March 7, 2005. Interested parties should review the December 3, 2004 NOFA for details on the FY 2005 funding round of the Technical Assistance Component and the application process. The December 3, 2004 NOFA, the Technical Assistance Component application, and other related documents may be found on the Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov. Interested parties also must note the following information that is specific to applications that are submitted in response to this NOFA amendment: Any entity that submitted a Technical Assistance Component application in response to the December 3, 2004 NOFA may not submit another application in response to this notice unless the application was rejected by the Fund for reason of incompleteness or lateness. If the Fund rejected the application due to incompleteness or lateness, it may be submitted in response to this notice and will be reviewed for funding so long as it meets the Fund's requirements as set forth in the December 3, 2004 NOFA. The Fund will review applications in accordance with the policies, procedures and requirements set forth in the December 3, 2004 NOFA. Applications that were submitted in response to the December 3, 2004 NOFA will be reviewed first. Applications submitted in response to this notice will be reviewed after applications submitted in response to the December 3, 2004 NOFA are reviewed. The Fund will make its funding decisions for applications submitted in response to this notice after funding decisions are made regarding applications made in response to the December 3, 2004 NOFA, subject to funding availability. If an applicant under this notice is required to submit a ``Certification of Material Change Form,'' it must do so by February 28, 2005. Refer to the December 3, 2004 NOFA for further information. All other information and requirements set forth in the December 3, 2004 NOFA for the FY 2005 funding round of the Technical Assistance Component shall remain effective, as published.

An open meeting of the Area 2 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.

An open meeting of the Joint Committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted via teleconference. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comment, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

This notice advises all interested persons of a public meeting of the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform.

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.

On December 20, 2004, the federal banking agencies (Board, FDIC, OCC, and OTS, collectively referred to as ``the Agencies'') published a proposal for public comment to standardize and expand the data collected from regulated institutions in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Shared National Credit (SNC) examinations. By standardizing and expanding the collection of data, the Agencies will be able to use advanced credit risk analytics that will be beneficial to the reporting banks and the Agencies. The Agencies are extending the comment period to give the public additional time to submit comments on the proposal.

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.

An open meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted (via teleconference). The TAP will be discussing issues pertaining to lessoning the burden for individuals. Recommendations for IRS systemic changes will be developed.

This document contains final regulations that authorize the Commissioner to provide exceptions to the requirements of section 6031(a) of the Internal Revenue Code for certain partnerships by guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. The regulations adopt the rules of the temporary regulations without any changes.

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 Bureau of the Public Debt within the Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning the Special Form of Assignment for U.S. Registered Definitive Securities and U.S. Bearer Securities.

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 the Disclaimer and Consent with Respect to United States Savings Bonds/ Notes.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is issuing, as an appendix to part 30 of its regulations, guidelines concerning the residential mortgage lending practices of national banks and their operating subsidiaries (Guidelines) as a further step to protect against national bank involvement in predatory, abusive, unfair, or deceptive residential mortgage lending practices. The Guidelines describe particular practices inconsistent with sound residential mortgage lending practices. They also describe other terms and practices that may be conducive to predatory, abusive, unfair, or deceptive lending practices, depending on the circumstances, and which, accordingly, warrant a heightened degree of care by lenders. In addition, the Guidelines address the steps that banks should take to mitigate risks associated with their purchase of residential mortgage loans and use of mortgage brokers to originate loans. The Guidelines focus on the substance of activities and practices, not on the creation of policies. The standards contained in the Guidelines are enforceable pursuant to section 39 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the implementing process set forth in part 30 of the OCC's regulations.

The OCC, Board, FDIC, and OTS (``we'' or ``the Agencies'') are reviewing our regulations to identify outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome regulatory requirements pursuant to the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA). Today, we request your comments and suggestions on ways to reduce burden in rules we have categorized as Money Laundering, Safety and Soundness, and Securities. All comments are welcome. We specifically invite comment on the following issues: Whether statutory changes are needed; whether the regulations contain requirements that are not needed to serve the purposes of the statutes they implement; the extent to which the regulations may adversely affect competition; whether the cost of compliance associated with reporting, recordkeeping, and disclosure requirements, particularly on small institutions, is justified; whether any regulatory requirements are inconsistent or redundant; and whether any regulations are unclear. We will analyze the comments received and propose burden-reducing changes to our regulations where appropriate. Some of your suggestions for burden reduction might require legislative changes. Where legislative changes would be required, we will consider your suggestions in recommending appropriate changes to Congress.

This notice is provided in accordance with IRC section 6039G, as amended, by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996. This listing contains the name of each individual losing United States citizenship (within the meaning of section 877(a)) with respect to whom the Secretary received information during the quarter ending December 31, 2004.

An open meeting of the Area 3 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 Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the 38,000-acre ``Covelo'' viticultural area in Mendocino County, California, about 150 miles north of San Francisco. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

This notice advises all interested persons of the initial public meeting of the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform. Background: Executive Order 13369 (January 7, 2005) established the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform. The Order provides that the purpose of the Advisory Panel shall be to submit to the Secretary of the Treasury a report with revenue neutral policy options for reforming the Federal Internal Revenue Code. The options should (a) simplify Federal tax laws to reduce the costs and administrative burdens of compliance with such laws; (b) share the burdens and benefits of the Federal tax structure in an appropriately progressive manner while recognizing the importance of homeownership and charity in American society; and (c) promote long-run economic growth and job creation, and better encourage work effort, saving, and investment, so as to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace. At least one option submitted by the Advisory Panel should use the Federal income tax as the base for its recommended reforms. Purpose: This is the first meeting of the Advisory Panel. The meeting will include background information presentations concerning the Federal tax system. Comments: Interested parties are invited to attend the meeting; however, no public comments will be heard at this meeting. The public will be provided additional opportunities to submit comments regarding issues of tax reform at later dates. Any written comments with respect to this meeting must be submitted by mail to The President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform, 1440 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 2100, Washington, DC 20220. An electronic address will be provided as soon as it is available. All written comments will be made available to the public. Records: Records are being kept of Advisory Panel proceedings and will be available at the Internal Revenue Service's FOIA Reading Room at 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 1621, Washington, DC 20024. The Reading Room is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays. The public entrance to the reading room is on Pennsylvania Avenue between 10th and 12th streets. The phone number is (202) 622-5164 (not a toll-free number). Advisory Panel documents, including meeting announcements, agendas, and minutes, will also be available on the Advisory Panel's Web site, which is currently under construction.