Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 14157 and Form 14157-A

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer and Form 14157-A, Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before May 9, 2016 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Tuawana Pinkston, Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 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 R. Joseph Durbala, at (202) 317-5746, or at Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the internet, at RJoseph.Durbala@irs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Tax Return Preparer Complaint.

OMB Number: 1545-2168.

Form Number: Form 14157 and Form 14157-A.

Abstract: These forms will be used by taxpayers to report allegations of misconduct by tax return preparers. The forms are created specifically for tax return preparer complaints and include items necessary for the IRS to effectively evaluate the complaint and route to the appropriate function.

Current Actions: This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection.

Type of Review: Extension to previously approved IC.

Affected Public: Individuals or households and businesses and other for-profits.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,500.

Estimated Average Time per Respondent: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500 hours.

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.