Comments Sought on Withholding Agent Appointment 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 2678, Employer Appointment of Agent.

[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 Carol Savage, (202) 622-3945, Internal Revenue Service, room 5569, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224.

[7] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[8] Title: Employer Appointment of Agent.

[9] OMB Number: 1545-0748.

[10] Form Number: 2678.

[11] Abstract: Internal Revenue Code section 3504 authorizes a fiduciary, agent or other person to perform acts of an employer for purposes of employment taxes. Form 2678 is used to empower an agent with the responsibility and liability of collecting and paying the employment taxes including backup withholding and filing the appropriate tax return.

[12] Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the form at this time.

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

[14] Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, not-for-profit institutions, farms and the Federal Government.

[15] Estimated Number of Respondents: 95,200.

[16] Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes.

[17] Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 47,600.

[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.

[20] 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.

[21] Request for Comments: 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.

[22] Approved: May 14, 1999.

Garrick R. Shear, IRS Reports