80 FR 47998 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request on Information Collection Tools Relating to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 153 (August 10, 2015)

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 the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP).

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47998-47999]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19521]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Proposed Collection; Comment Request on Information Collection 
Tools Relating to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP)

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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, Public Law 104-13(44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning 
the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP).

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before October 9, 2015 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Christie Preston, Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20224. Please send separate comments for each specific information 
collection listed below. You must reference the information 
collection's title, form number, reporting or record-keeping 
requirement number, and OMB number (if any) in your comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the collection tools should be directed to R. Joseph Durbala, 
Internal Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20224, or at (202)317-5746, or through the internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Currently, the IRS is seeking comments 
concerning the following information collection tools, reporting, and 
record-keeping requirements:
    Title: Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP).
    OMB Number: 1545-2241.
    Form Number(s): 14452, 14453, 14454, 14457, 14467, 14653, 14654, 
and 14708.
    Abstract: The IRS is offering people with undisclosed income from 
offshore accounts an opportunity to get current with their tax returns. 
Taxpayers with undisclosed foreign accounts or entities should make a 
voluntary disclosure because it enables them to become compliant, avoid 
substantial civil penalties and generally eliminate the risk of 
criminal prosecution. The objective is to bring taxpayers that have 
used undisclosed foreign accounts and undisclosed foreign entities to 
avoid or evade tax into compliance with United States tax laws.
    Current Actions: In September 2012, the IRS announced a new 
offshore initiative entitled the Streamlined Non-filer program. This 
program was developed specifically for US citizens with income solely 
from non-us sources. Although this program was successful at closing 
the non-filer loop, this program did not allow for amended returns to 
be filed reporting previously unreported foreign sourced income. As a 
result, an enhanced process was developed in which taxpayers will be 
allowed to file amended returns in order to report previously 
unreported foreign source income while allowing a relief from 
penalties.
    Forms 14653, 14654, and the new Form 14708 have replaced the need 
for Form 14438. The net result is a burden increase of 15,500 estimated 
responses and 30,500 estimated annual hours per year.
    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 474,000.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 1 hour 40 mins.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 757,000.
    The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of 
information covered by this notice:
    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: 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.


[[Page 47999]]


    Approved: August 3, 2015.
R. Joseph Durbala,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-19521 Filed 8-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P