Department of Treasury March 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document describes corrections to a notice and request for comments that was published in the Federal Register on Monday, March 7, 2011 at 76 FR 12415 inviting 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)).

An open meeting of the Area 3 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted. 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 Area 5 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted. 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 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Small Business/ Self Employed Correspondence Exam Toll Free Project Committee will be conducted. 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 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Notice Improvement Project Committee will be conducted. 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 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Earned Income Tax Credit Project Committee will be conducted. 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 Form 8951, Application for Voluntary Correction Program (VCP).

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, TD 8537, Carryover of Passive Activity Losses and Credits and At-Risk Losses to Bankruptcy Estates of Individuals (Sec. Sec. 1.1398-1 and 1.1398-2).

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 an existing final regulation, T.D. 8461, Nuclear Decommissioning Fund Qualification Requirements (Sec. 1.468A-3).

An open meeting of the Area 1 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be conducted. 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 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Taxpayer Assistance Center Project Committee will be conducted. 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 Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, and Form SS- 4PR, Solicitud de Numero de Indentification Patronal (EIN).

This document contains final regulations on the requirement for ``specified tax return preparers'' to file individual income tax returns using magnetic media pursuant to section 6011(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The final regulations reflect changes made to the law by the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. These regulations provide guidance to specified tax return preparers who prepare and file individual income tax returns. Unless an exception in these regulations applies, a tax return preparer who meets the definition of a ``specified tax return preparer'' must electronically file Federal income tax returns that the preparer prepares and files for individuals, trusts, and estates. These regulations provide a two-year transition period for certain specified tax return preparers.

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 revisions to currently approved information collection 1525-0012, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the United States Mint, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, is soliciting comments on the United States Mint customer satisfaction and opinion surveys and focus group interviews.

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 existing final regulations, REG-208156-91 (TD 8929), Accounting for Long-Term Contracts (Sec. 1.460-1).

Pursuant to United States Code, Title 31, section 5135(b), the United States Mint is accepting applications for appointment to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) for the position of the member specially qualified to serve on the CCAC by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in numismatics. The CCAC was established to: Advise the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals, and national and other medals produced by the United States Mint. Advise the Secretary of the Treasury with regard to the events, persons, or places that the CCAC recommends to be commemorated by the issuance of commemorative coins in each of the five calendar years succeeding the year in which a commemorative coin designation is made. Make recommendations with respect to the mintage level for any commemorative coin recommended. Total membership consists of 11 voting members appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury: One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training or experience as nationally or internationally recognized curator in the United States of a numismatic collection; One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her experience in the medallic arts or sculpture; One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in American history; One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in numismatics; Three persons who can represent the interests of the general public in the coinage of the United States; and Four persons appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury on the basis of the recommendations by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate leadership. Members are appointed for a term of four years. No individual may be appointed to the CCAC while serving as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. The CCAC is subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury. Meetings of the CCAC are open to the public and are held approximately eight to ten times per year. The United States Mint is responsible for providing the necessary support, technical services and advice to the CCAC. CCAC members are not paid for their time or services but, consistent with Federal Travel Regulations, members are reimbursed for their travel and lodging expenses to attend meetings. Members are Special Government Employees and are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 CFR part 2653). The United States Mint will review all submissions and will forward its recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury for appointment consideration. Candidates should include specific skills, abilities, talents, and credentials to support their applications. The United States Mint is also interested in candidates who have demonstrated leadership skills, have received recognition by their peers in their field of interest, have a record of participation in public service or activities, and are willing to commit the time and effort to participate in the CCAC meetings and related activities. Application Deadline: April 8, 2011. Receipt of Applications: Any member of the public wishing to be considered for the position on the CCAC as the member specially qualified by virtue of education, training or experience in numismatics should submit a resume and cover letter, describing qualifications for membership, by fax to 202-756-6525, or by mail to the United States Mint, 801 9th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001, Attn: Greg Weinman. Submissions must be postmarked no later than April 8, 2011.

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 continuing 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 comment concerning its information collection titled, ``Community Reinvestment Act Regulations.''

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 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the ``CDFI Fund''), the Department of the Treasury, is soliciting comments concerning data collection to support the Capacity Building Initiative. The CDFI Fund intends to collect data on the CDFI industry's needs for different training and technical assistance topics. The CDFI Fund (and its provider firms) will assess the demand for capacity-building on specific topics, the type of content to be provided, and the target audience for specific training courses. Additionally, the CDFI Fund (and its provider firms) will conduct capacity assessments of program participants to further refine course content. Data collection will be used to evaluate the services being provided through the Capacity Building Initiative as well. Data collection is expected to take place via online surveys, survey forms submitted electronically to the CDFI Fund, in-person and remote focus groups, phone questionnaires, or similar methods. In general, the CDFI Fund does not anticipate publishing the results of these data collections; however, should this information be useful the public, the CDFI Fund will ensure that no information of a sensitive or proprietary nature is released.

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 Prepaid Card Marketing Customer Survey, CS-10-251

This document contains a proposed regulation pertaining to the period for submission to the IRS of taxpayer authorizations permitting disclosure of returns and return information to third-party designees. Specifically, the proposed regulation extends from 60 days to 120 days the period within which a signed and dated authorization must be received by the IRS (or an agent or contractor of the IRS) in order for it to be effective. The proposed regulation extends the period as some institutions charged with assisting taxpayers in their financial dealings have encountered difficulty in obtaining written authorizations and submitting the authorizations within the 60-day period allowed by the existing regulations. The proposed regulation will affect taxpayers who submit authorizations permitting disclosure of returns and return information to third-party designees. This document also provides notice of a public hearing on the proposed regulation.

The Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (Treasury), administers the Federal corporate surety program. Treasury issues certificates of authority to qualified sureties to underwrite and reinsure Federal bond obligations. We are proposing to amend our regulation to clarify the circumstances when an agency bond-approving official can decline to accept a bond underwritten by a Treasury- certified surety. We are also proposing to amend the procedures to be used by Treasury in adjudicating any complaint received from an agency requesting that a surety's certificate be revoked for failure to satisfy an administratively final bond obligation due the agency.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, the FDIC, and the OTS (the ``agencies'') may not conduct or sponsor, and the 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 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has approved the agencies' publication for public comment of a proposal to revise the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) for banks, the Thrift Financial Report (TFR) for savings associations, the Report of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 002), and the Report of Assets and Liabilities of a Non- U.S. Branch that is Managed or Controlled by a U.S. Branch or Agency of a Foreign (Non-U.S.) Bank (FFIEC 002S), all of which are currently approved collections of information, effective as of the June 30, 2011, report date. At the end of the comment period, the comments and recommendations received will be analyzed to determine the extent to which the FFIEC and the agencies should modify the proposed revisions prior to giving final approval. The agencies will then submit the revisions to OMB for review and approval.

This document contains proposed regulations that amend existing regulations to reflect changes to section 6104(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) made by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). These rules provide guidance to states regarding the process by which they may obtain or inspect certain returns and return information (including information about final and proposed denials and revocations of tax-exempt status) for the purpose of administering state laws governing certain tax-exempt organizations and their activities. These regulations will affect such exempt organizations, as well as those state agencies choosing to obtain information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under section 6104(c).

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, T.D. 9315, Dual Consolidated Loss Regulations.

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, T.D. 9344, Discharge of Liens, (Sec. 301.7425-3(b)(2)).