81 FR 15680 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 57 (March 24, 2016)

The Department of Commerce, 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.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15680-15681]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06649]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, 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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Cheryl H. Lee, Chief, State Finance and Tax 
Statistics Branch, Economy-Wide Statistics Division, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Headquarters: 8K057, Washington, DC 20233; telephone: 
301.763.5635; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the Quarterly Summary of State and Local 
Government Tax Revenue, using the F-71 (Quarterly Survey of Property 
Tax Collections), F-72 (Quarterly Survey of State Tax Collections), and 
F-73 (Quarterly Survey of Non-Property Taxes) forms. The Quarterly 
Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue provides quarterly 
estimates of state and local government tax revenue at the national 
level, as well as detailed tax revenue data for individual states. The 
information contained in this survey is the most current information 
available on a nationwide basis for state and local government tax 
collections.
    The Census Bureau needs state and local tax data to publish 
benchmark statistics on taxes, to provide data to the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculations and 
other economic indicators, and to provide data for economic research 
and comparative studies of governmental finances. Tax collection data 
are used to measure economic activity for the Nation as a whole, as 
well as for comparison among the various states. Economists and public 
policy analysts use the data to assess general economic conditions and 
state and local government financial activities.
    The Census Bureau is requesting an extension of the approval of the 
current forms. No changes to the forms are being requested.
    For the Quarterly Survey of Non-Property Taxes (Form F-73) we will 
mail letters quarterly to a sample of approximately 1,800 local tax 
collection agencies known to have substantial collections of local 
general sales and/or local individual/corporation net income

[[Page 15681]]

taxes requesting their online data submissions.
    For the Quarterly Survey of Property Tax Collections (Form F-71) we 
will mail letters quarterly to a sample of approximately 5,500 local 
tax collection agencies known to have substantial collections of 
property tax requesting their online data submissions.
    For the Quarterly Survey of State Tax Collections (F-72) we will 
mail letters to each of the 50 state governments quarterly requesting 
their online data submissions or continued coordinated submission 
through the state government revenue office.

II. Method of Collection

    F-71 and F-73 survey data will be collected via the Internet. Data 
for the F-72 survey are collected via the Internet or compilation of 
data in coordination with the state government revenue office.
    In addition to reporting current quarter data, respondents may 
report data for the previous eight quarters or submit revisions to 
their previously submitted data. In the event that a respondent cannot 
report online, they may request a form as a last resort.
    In those instances when we are not able to obtain a response, we 
conduct follow-up operations using email and phone calls. Nonresponse 
weighting adjustments are used to adjust for any unreported units in 
the sample from the latest available data.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0112.
    Form Number: F-71, F-72, F-73.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and Local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,350.
    Estimated Time per Response: F-71 = 15 minutes, F-72 = 30 minutes, 
F-73 = 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondents Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 161 and 182.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 21, 2016.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-06649 Filed 3-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P