Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Forms 943, 943-PR, 943- A, and 943A-PR

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Forms 943, 943-PR, 943-

A, and 943A-PR

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

[[Page 27790]]

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning

Forms 943, Employer's Annual Tax Return for Agricultural Employees,

943-PR, Planilla Para La Declaracion Anual De La Contribucion Del

Patrono De Empleados Agricolas, 943-A, Agricultural Employer's Record

of Federal Tax Liability, and 943A-PR, Registro De La Obligacion

Contributiva Del Patrono Agricola.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before July 20, 1998

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 form and instructions should be directed to Martha R.

Brinson, (202) 622-3869, Internal Revenue Service, room 5571, 1111

Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Employer's Annual Tax Return for Agricultural Employees

(Form 943), Planilla Para La Declaracion Anual De La Contribucion Del

Patrono De Empleados Agricolas (Form 943-PR), Agricultural Employer's

Record of Federal Tax Liability (Form 943-A), and Registro De La

Obligacion Contributiva Del Patrono Agricola (Form 943A-PR).

OMB Number: 1545-0035.

Form Number: 943, 943-PR, 943-A, and 943A-PR.

Abstract: Agricultural employers must prepare and file Form 943 and

Form 943-PR (Puerto Rico only) to report and pay FICA taxes and income

tax voluntarily withheld (Form 943 only). Agricultural employers may

attach Forms 943-A and 943A-PR to Forms 943 and 943-PR to show their

tax liabilities for semiweekly periods. The information is used to

verify that the correct tax has been paid.

Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the forms at

this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 392,443.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 11 hr., 14 min.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,409,010.

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.

Approved: May 8, 1998.

Garrick R. Shear,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-13459 Filed 5-19-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830-01-U