Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 1023

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

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 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before August 30, 2004 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Glenn P. Kirkland, Internal Revenue Service, room 6411, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Carol Savage at Internal Revenue Service, room 6407, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224, or at (202) 622-3945, or through the Internet at CAROL.A.SAVAGE@irs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

OMB Number: 1545-0056.

Form Numbers: 1023.

Abstract: Form 1023 is filed by applicants seeking Federal income tax exemption as organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS uses the information to determine if the applicant is exempt and whether the applicant is a private foundation.

Current Actions: Form 1023 is being redesigned by IRS to reduce taxpayer burden by ensuring that all information needed to make an accurate determination is available to the IRS when the application is filed, and by improving the taxpayer's understanding of the requirements for receiving tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3).

Form 872-C is being obsoleted because the information will appear on Form 1023.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 29,409.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 103 hours, 7 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,032,916.

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.