Department of Treasury April 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to amend the regulations setting forth the standards of identity for distilled spirits to include ``Cacha[ccedil]a'' as a type of rum and as a distinctive product of Brazil. This proposal follows requests received from the Government of Brazil and subsequent discussions with the Office of the United States Trade Representative. TTB invites comments on this proposed amendment to the TTB regulations.

This document contains corrections to a publication of inflation adjustment factors and reference prices for calendar year 2012 as required by section 45(e)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 45(e)(2)(A)), section 45(e)(8)(C)), and section 45(e)(10)(C) (26 U.S.C. 45(e)(10)(C)), that was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 (77 FR 21835). The 2012 inflation adjustment factors and reference prices are used in determining the availability of the credit for renewable electricity production.

This is Supplement No. 17 to the Treasury Department Circular 570, 2011 Revision, published July 1, 2011, at 76 FR 38892.

The OCC, 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 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 OMB control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, ``Investment Securities.'' The OCC is also giving notice that the collection has been submitted to OMB for review.

This document provides a Treasury decision that removes the final regulations contained in TD 9524 relating to withholding by government entities on payments to persons providing property or services, and makes conforming amendments to regulations to reflect the removal of these regulations. The final regulations are removed because the 3% Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act repealed the provision of the Internal Revenue Code underlying the final regulations before the provision became effective. The guidance affects government entities that would have been required to withhold and report tax from payments to persons providing property or services and also affects the persons receiving payments for property or services from these government entities.

This document contains proposed regulations relating to the deductibility of expenses for lodging when not traveling away from home (local lodging). The regulations affect taxpayers who pay or incur expenses for local lodging.

This document contains final regulations relating to the characterization of gain recognized with respect to stock in certain foreign corporations upon distributions. The regulations finalize proposed regulations and remove temporary regulations that characterize gain recognized with respect to stock in foreign corporations upon distributions as a deemed dividend in certain situations. The regulations affect certain persons that recognize gain with respect to stock in connection with the receipt of a distribution of property from a foreign corporation.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requests applications of individuals to be considered for selection as members of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC). Nominations should describe and document the proposed member's qualification for IRSAC membership, including the applicant's knowledge of Circular 230 regulations and the applicant's past or current affiliations and dealings with the particular tax segment or segments of the community that the applicant wishes to represent on the council. Applications will be accepted for current vacancies from qualified individuals and from professional and public interest groups that wish to have representatives on the IRSAC. The IRSAC is comprised of no more than thirty-five (35) appointed members; approximately seven of these appointments will expire in December 2012. It is important that the IRSAC continue to represent a diverse taxpayer and stakeholder base. Accordingly, to maintain membership diversity, selection is based on the applicant's qualifications as well as areas of expertise, geographic diversity, major stakeholder representation and customer segments. The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) provides an organized public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss relevant tax administration issues. The council advises the IRS on issues that have a substantive effect on federal tax administration. As an advisory body designed to focus on broad policy matters, the IRSAC reviews existing tax policy and/or recommends policies with respect to emerging tax administration issues. The IRSAC suggests operational improvements, offers constructive observations regarding current or proposed IRS policies, programs, and procedures, and advises the IRS with respect to issues having substantive effect on federal tax administration.

This document contains final regulations regarding the reporting requirements for interest that relates to deposits maintained at U.S. offices of certain financial institutions and is paid to certain nonresident alien individuals. These regulations will affect commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, securities brokerages, and insurance companies that pay interest on deposits.

This document contains proposed regulations that implement and provide guidance on the fees imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on issuers of certain health insurance policies and plan sponsors of certain self-insured health plans to fund the Patient- Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund. These proposed regulations affect the issuers and plan sponsors that are directed to pay those fees. This document also contains a request for comments and provides notice of public hearing on these proposed regulations.

This document contains final regulations concerning the deferral of losses on the sale or exchange of property between members of a controlled group and provides guidance as to the time for taking into account those losses. These regulations affect corporations that are members of a controlled group.

This document contains final regulations under Internal Revenue Code (Code) section 642(c) with regard to the Federal tax consequences of an ordering provision in a trust, a will, or a provision of local law that attempts to determine the tax character of the amounts paid to a charitable beneficiary of the trust or estate. The final regulations also make conforming amendments to the regulations under section 643(a)(5). The final regulations affect estates, charitable lead trusts (CLTs), and other trusts making payments or permanently setting aside amounts for a charitable purpose.

This document contains a correction to final regulations (TD 9562) that were published in the Federal Register on Friday, December 9, 2011 (76 FR 76895) providing guidance on conduit financing arrangements. The final regulations apply to multiple-party financing arrangements that are effected through disregarded entities, and are necessary in order to determine which of those arrangements should be recharacterized as a conduit financing arrangement.

The Financial Management Service, 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 a continuing information collection. By this notice, the Financial Management Service solicits comments concerning forms FMS-150.1 ``Trace Request for Electronic Funds Transfer Payment'' and FMS-150.2 ``Trace Request Direct Deposit.''

The 2012 inflation adjustment factors and reference prices are used in determining the availability of the credit for renewable electricity production, refined coal production, and Indian coal production under section 45.

The OCC is requesting comment on a proposal that would revise the requirements imposed on banks pursuant to 12 CFR 9.18(b)(4)(ii)(B), the short-term investment fund (STIF) rule (STIF Rule). The proposal would add safeguards designed to address the risk of loss to a STIF's principal, including measures governing the nature of a STIF's investments, ongoing monitoring of its mark-to-market value and forecasting of potential changes in its mark-to-market value under adverse market conditions, greater transparency and regulatory reporting about a STIF's holdings, and procedures to protect fiduciary accounts from undue dilution of their participating interests in the event that the STIF loses the ability to maintain a stable net asset value (NAV).

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Tax Forms and Publications 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 Taxpayer Burden Reduction 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 Face-to-Face Service Methods 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 Small Business/ Self-Employed Decreasing Non-Filers 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 Bankruptcy Compliance 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)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning information collection requirements related to Guidance Under Section 1502; Suspension of Losses on Certain Stock Disposition.

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)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning collection requirements related to travel expenses of state legislators.

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)).

The OCC, 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 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 OMB control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, ``Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions12 CFR parts 12 and 151.''