Department of Veterans Affairs July 19, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to continue a recurring computer program matching Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records with VA pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records. The goal of this match is to compare income and employment status as reported to VA with wage and income records maintained by IRS. VA plans to match records of veterans, surviving spouses and children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC, with IRS income tax return information and Federal Tax Information (FTI) as it relates to earned income. VA will also match records of veterans receiving disability compensation at the 100 percent rate based on unemployability with IRS income tax return information as it relates to earned income. VA will use this information to adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure accurate reporting of income and employment status. The authority for this matching program is 38 U.S.C. 5317, which requires Federal agencies to furnish VA with information necessary to determine eligibility for or amount of benefits. In addition, 26 U.S.C. 6103(l)(7) authorizes the disclosure of tax return information to VA. Records to be Matched: VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, ``Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records-VA (58VA21/22/28),'' published at 75 FR 22187 (April 27, 2010). The IRS records will come from the Information Return Master File (IRMF)/IRS 22.061, as published at 73 FR13302 (March 12, 2008), through the disclosure of Information to Federal, State and Local Agencies (DIFSLA) program. In accordance with Title 5 U.S.C. subsection 552a(o)(2) and (r), copies of the agreement are being sent to both Houses of Congress and to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.