Manufacturers Excise Taxes-Firearms and Ammunition (95R-055P)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Part 53

[Notice No. 831]

RIN 1512-AB42

Manufacturers Excise Taxes-Firearms and Ammunition (95R-055P)

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of

the Treasury.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments on temporary regulations.

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SUMMARY: In the Rules and Regulations portion of this Federal Register,

the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is issuing temporary

regulations to simplify the regulations in 27 CFR Part 53 relating to

exemption certificates. The regulations are being revised to give

taxpayers the option of using a preprinted document as exemption

certificates and vendor(vendee) statements or designing their own

certificates and statements using specified information. ATF is

requesting comments on the temporary regulations before issuing the

final regulations.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Regulations Branch, Bureau

of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington, DC 20226-

0221.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Lou Blake, Regulations Branch,

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Ave., NW,

Washington, DC 20226; (202-927-8210).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

It has been determined that this proposed rule is not a significant

regulatory action as defined in E.O. 12866. Therefore, a regulatory

assessment is not required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

It is hereby certified that this proposed regulation will not have

a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities

or impose or otherwise cause an increase in the reporting,

recordkeeping or other compliance burdens on a substantial number of

small entities. The factual basis for such certification is that this

revision does not add any new requirement for reporting or

recordkeeping. This revision serves only to clarify and streamline

current regulatory requirements. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the

Internal Revenue Code, this proposed regulation has been submitted to

the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for

comment on its impact on small business.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Public Law

96-511, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR

part 1329, do not apply to this notice because there are no new

reporting or recordkeeping requirements.

Public Participation

ATF requests comments on the proposed regulations from all

interested persons. Comments received on or before the closing date

will be carefully considered. Comments received after that date will be

given the same consideration if it is practical to do so, but assurance

of consideration cannot be given except as to comments received on or

before the closing date.

ATF will not recognize any material in comments as confidential.

Comments may be disclosed to the public. Any material which the

commenter considers to be confidential or inappropriate for disclosure

to the public should not be included in the comment. The name of the

person submitting a comment is not exempt from disclosure.

Any interested person who desires an opportunity to comment orally

at a public hearing should submit his or her request in writing, to the

Director within the 60-day comment period. The Director, however,

reserves the right to determine, in light of all circumstances, whether

a public hearing is necessary.

[[Page 37023]]

The temporary regulations in this issue of the Federal Register

amend the regulations in 27 CFR Part 53. For the text of the temporary

regulations, see T.D. ATF-380 published in the Rules and Regulations

section of this issue of the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

The author of this document is Mary Lou Blake, Regulations Branch,

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Signed: May 30, 1996.

Bradley A. Buckles,

Acting Director.

Approved: June 10, 1996.

John P. Simpson,

Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).

[FR Doc. 96-17997 Filed 7-15-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810-31-P