Proposed Collection; Comment Request

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for

public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data

collections.

Comments Are Invited On

(a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for

the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to

be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the

collection of information on respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Title and Purpose of Information Collection

Withholding Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity

Payments; OMB 3220-0149.

The Internal Revenue Code requires all payers of tax liable private

pensions to U.S. citizens to: (1) Notify each recipient at least

concurrent with initial withholding that the payer is, in fact,

withholding benefits for tax liability and that the recipient has the

option of electing not to have the payer withhold, or to withhold at a

specific rate; (2) withhold benefits for tax purposes (in the absence

of the recipient's election not to withhold benefits); and (3) notify

all beneficiaries, at least annually, that they have the option of

changing their withholding status or elect not to have benefits

withheld.

The Railroad Retirement Board provides Form RRB-W4P, Withholding

Certificate for Railroad Retirement

[[Page 4502]]

Payments, to its annuitants to exercise their withholding options.

Completion of the form is required to obtain or retain a benefit. One

response is requested of each respondent.

No changes are being proposed to the current version of Form RRB W-

4P used by the RRB. The RRB estimates that 25,000 annuitants utilize

Form RRB W-4P annually. The completion time for Form RRB W-4P varies

depending on individual circumstances. The average completion time for

Form RRB W-4P is estimated at 40 minutes for recordkeeping, 20 minutes

for learning about the law or the form, and 49 minutes for preparing

the form.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information

collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please

call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363. Comments regarding

the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp,

Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-

2092. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this

notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-2129 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M