Comments Sought on Wagers Form

[1] AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

[2] ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

[3] SUMMARY: 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 IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 730, Tax on Wagering.

[4] DATES: Written comments should be received on or before July 26, 1999 to be assured of consideration.

[5] ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Garrick R. Shear, Internal Revenue Service, room 5571, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

[6] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Faye Bruce, (202) 622-6665, Internal Revenue Service, room 5577, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224.

[7] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[8] Title: Tax on Wagering.

[9] OMB Number: 1545-0235.

[10] Form Number: 730.

[11] Abstract: Form 730 is used to identify taxable wagers under Internal Revenue Code section 4401 and collect the tax monthly. The information is used to determine if persons accepting wagers are correctly reporting the amount of wagers and paying the required tax.

[12] Current Actions: Form 730 has been reformatted to be scannable. New entry boxes have been added for a daytime telephone number, and to indicate a final return. Lines 4a and 4b each have a new entry to allow for the separate computation of tax amounts for wagers authorized under state law (line 4a) and for all other wagers (line 4b).

[13] Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

[14] Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations and individuals.

[15] Estimated Number of Responses: 51,082.

[16] Estimated Time Per Response: 7 hrs., 25 min.

[17] Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 378,518.

[18] The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information covered by this notice:

[19] An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Request for Comments

[20] Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

[21] Approved: May 13, 1999.

Garrick R. Shear,