Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17057-17058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8639]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service
[FI-28-96]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

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 an 
existing final regulation, FI-28-96 (TD 8801), Arbitrage Restrictions 
on Tax-Exempt Bonds (Sec. 1.148-5).

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before June 7, 1999 to 
be assured of consideration.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the regulation should be directed to Carol Savage, (202) 622-
3945, Internal Revenue Service, room 5569, 1111 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Arbitrage Restrictions on Tax-Exempt Bonds.
    OMB Number: 1545-1490.
    Regulation Project Number: FI-28-96.
    Abstract: This regulation provides guidance concerning the 
arbitrage restrictions applicable to tax-exempt bonds issued by state 
and local governments and contains rules regarding the use of proceeds 
of state and local bonds to acquire higher yielding investments. The 
regulation provides safe harbors for establishing the fair market value 
of all investments purchased for yield restricted defeasance escrows. 
Further, the regulation requires that issuers must retain certain 
records and information with the bond documents. The recordkeeping 
requirements are necessary for the IRS to determine that an issuer of 
tax-exempt bonds has not paid more than fair market value for 
nonpurpose investments under section 148 of the Internal Revenue Code.
    Current Actions: There is no change to this existing regulation.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal governments, and not-for-
profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,400.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,425.
    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

[[Page 17058]]

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.

    Approved: April 1, 1999.
Garrick R. Shear,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-8639 Filed 4-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-U