Department of Treasury May 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Internal Revenue Service published a document in the Federal Register of May 13, 2015, announcing the availability of the 2016 grant application package. The heading inadvertently referencing the ``2014'' Grant Application Package should have read ``2016''.

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 8931, Agricultural Chemicals Security Credit.

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 Inspection of Applications for Tax Exemption and Applications for Determination Letters for Pension and Other Plans.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we invite comments on the proposed or continuing information collections listed below in this notice.

This document contains proposed regulations under section 597 of the Internal Revenue Code (the ``Code''). The proposed regulations, which will apply to banks and domestic building and loan associations (and related parties) that receive Federal financial assistance (``FFA''), will modify and clarify the treatment of transactions in which FFA is provided to such institutions. This document also invites comments from the public and requests for a public hearing regarding these proposed 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 Form 5452, Corporate Report of Nondividend Distributions.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is adopting a final rule to integrate its rules relating to policies and procedures for corporate activities and transactions involving national banks and Federal savings associations, to revise some of these rules in order to eliminate unnecessary requirements consistent with safety and soundness and to promote fairness in supervision, and to make other technical and conforming changes. The OCC also is adopting amendments to update its rules for agency organization and function.

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) as a member representing the interests of the general public in the coinage of the United States. The CCAC was established to: [ssquf] 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. [ssquf] 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. [ssquf] 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: [ssquf] 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; [ssquf] One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her experience in the medallic arts or sculpture; [ssquf] One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in American history; [ssquf] One person specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in numismatics; [ssquf] Three persons who can represent the interests of the general public in the coinage of the United States; and [ssquf] Four persons appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury on the basis of the recommendations by the House 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 five to seven 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 interested in candidates who are recognized as having unique and valued talents or as an accomplished professional; have demonstrated experience, knowledge, interest or background in a variety of fields, including numismatics, art, education, working with youth, or American heritage and culture; have demonstrated interest and a commitment to actively participate in CCAC meetings and activities, and a demonstrated understanding of the role of the CCAC and the obligations of a Special Government Employee; possess demonstrated leadership skills in their fields of expertise or discipline; possess a demonstrated desire for public service; and have a history of honorable professional and personal conduct, as well as successful standing in their communities; and who are free of professional, political, or financial interests that could negatively affect their ability to provide impartial advice. Application Deadline: Friday, June 19, 2015. Receipt of Applications: Any member of the public wishing to be considered for participation on the CCAC should submit a resume and cover letter describing his or her reasons for seeking and qualifications for membership, by email to info@ccac.gov, by fax to 202-756-6525, or by mail to the United States Mint; 801 9th Street NW., Washington, DC 20220; Attn: Greg Weinman. Submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, June 19, 2015. Notice Concerning Delivery of First-Class and Priority Mail: First-class mail to the United States Mint is put through an irradiation process to protect against biological contamination. Support materials put through this process may suffer irreversible damage. We encourage you to consider using alternate delivery services, especially when sending time-sensitive material.

This document contains a notice that the IRS has made available the 2016 Grant Application Package and Guidelines (Publication 3319) for organizations interested in applying for a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) matching grant for the 2016 grant year, which runs from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. The application period runs through June 15, 2015. The IRS will award a total of up to $6,000,000 (unless otherwise provided by specific Congressional appropriation) to qualifying organizations, subject to the limitations of Internal Revenue Code section 7526. For fiscal year 2015, Congress appropriated a total of $10,000,000 in federal funds for LITC grants. A qualifying organization may receive a matching grant of up to $100,000 per year for up to a three-year project period. Qualifying organizations that provide representation to low income taxpayers involved in a tax controversy with the IRS or educate individuals for whom English is a second language (ESL) of their taxpayer rights and responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code are eligible for a grant. Beginning in grant year 2016, the LITC Program will award grants only to qualifying organizations that provide both services. An LITC must provide services for free or for no more than a nominal fee. Examples of qualifying organizations include: (1) A clinical program at an accredited law, business or accounting school whose students represent low income taxpayers in tax controversies with the IRS, and (2) an organization exempt from tax under I.R.C. Sec. 501(a) whose employees and volunteers represent low income taxpayers in tax controversies with the IRS. In determining whether to award a grant, the IRS will consider a variety of factors, including: (1) The number of taxpayers who will be assisted by the organization, including the number of ESL taxpayers in that geographic area; (2) the existence of other LITCs assisting the same population of low income and ESL taxpayers; (3) the quality of the program offered by the organization, including the qualifications of its administrators and qualified representatives, and its record, if any, in providing assistance to low income taxpayers; and (4) alternative funding sources available to the organization, including amounts received from other grants and contributions, and the endowment and resources of the institution sponsoring the organization.

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 (PRA). In accordance with the requirements of the PRA, the OCC 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 OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, ``Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions.'' The OCC also is giving notice that it has sent the collection to OMB for review.

This document contains proposed regulations that provide guidance regarding the application of the modified carryover basis rules of section 1022 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Specifically, the proposed regulations will modify provisions of the Treasury Regulations involving basis rules by including a reference to section 1022 where appropriate. The regulations will affect property transferred from certain decedents who died in 2010. The regulations reflect changes to the law made by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Taxpayer Communications 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 Special Projects 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 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.

This notice is provided in accordance with IRC section 6039G of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996, as amended. This listing contains the name of each individual losing United States citizenship (within the meaning of section 877(a) or 877A) with respect to whom the Secretary received information during the quarter ending March 31, 2015. For purposes of this listing, long- term residents, as defined in section 877(e)(2), are treated as if they were citizens of the United States who lost citizenship.

This document contains final and temporary regulations amending the treatment of nonperiodic payments made or received pursuant to certain notional principal contracts. These regulations provide that, subject to certain exceptions, a notional principal contract with a nonperiodic payment, regardless of whether it is significant, must be treated as two separate transactions consisting of one or more loans and an on-market, level payment swap. This document also contains temporary regulations regarding an exception from the definition of United States property. These regulations affect parties making and receiving payments under notional principal contracts, including United States shareholders of controlled foreign corporations and tax-exempt organizations. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of the proposed regulations set forth in the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-102656-15) on this subject in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register.

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 Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes.

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 4670, Request for Relief of Payment of Certain Withholding Taxes.

The Department of the Treasury is issuing a revised interim rule implementing the Bank Enterprise Award Program (BEA Program), administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), Department of the Treasury. This revised interim rule reflects requirements set forth in a final rule, published by the Department of the Treasury (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, December 19, 2014), hereafter referred to as the Uniform Administrative Requirements. The Uniform Administrative Requirements constitute a government-wide framework for grants management codified by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); they combine several OMB guidance circulars aimed at reducing administrative burden for award Recipients and reducing the risk of waste, fraud and abuse of Federal financial assistance. The Uniform Administrative Requirements establish financial, administrative, procurement, and program management standards with which Federal award-making programs, including those administered by the CDFI Fund, and Recipients must comply. This revised BEA Program interim rule includes revisions necessary to implement the Uniform Administrative Requirements, as well as to make certain technical corrections and other updates to the current rule.

This document contains corrections to final regulations (TD 9708) that were published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2014 (79 FR 78954). The final regulations provide guidance regarding the requirements for charitable hospital organizations added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

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 substantiation and reporting requirements for cash and noncash charitable contribution deductions.

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 13997, Validating Your TIN and Reasonable Cause.

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 Rev. Proc. 2008-60, Election Involving the Repeal of the Bonding Requirement.