Start Preamble

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 Forms W-2, W-2c, W-2AS, W-2GU, W-2VI, W-3, W-3c, W-3cPR, W-3PR, and W-3SS.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before March 27, 2001 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Garrick R. Shear, Internal Revenue Service, room 5244, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

Start Further Info

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the forms and instructions should be directed to Carol Savage, (202) 622-3945, Internal Revenue Service, room 5242, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

Title: W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement), W-2c (Corrected Wage and Tax Statement), W-2AS (American Samoa Wage and Tax Statement), W-2GU (Guam Wage and Tax Statement), W-2VI (U.S. Virgin Islands Wage and Tax Statement), W-3 (Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements), W-3c (Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax Statements), W-3PR (Informe de Comprobantes de Retencion), W-3cPR (Transmision de Comprobantes de Retencion Corregidos), and W-3SS (Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements).

OMB Number: 1545-0008.

Form Number: Forms W-2, W-2c, W-2AS, W-2GU, W-2VI, W-3, W-3c, W-3cPR, W-3PR, and W-3SS.

Abstract: Employers report income and withholding information on Form W-2. Forms W-2AS, W-2GU and W-2VI are variations of Form W-2 for use in U.S. possessions. The Form W-3 series is used to transmit W-2 series forms to the Social Security Administration. Forms W-2c, W-3c and W-3cPR are used to correct previously filed Forms W-2, W-3, and W-3PR. Individuals use Form W-2 to prepare their income tax returns.

Current Actions: There are no changes being made to these forms at this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions, farms, and Federal, state, local or tribal governments.

Estimated Number of Responses: 253,007,121.

Estimated Time Per Response: Varies.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 126,579,897.

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 Start Printed Page 7955of 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.

Start SignatureEnd Signature End Supplemental Information