Treasury
modified survey and supporting statements to address statistical
concerns raised by OMB.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2011
6 Months From Approved
5,734
0
0
542
0
0
0
0
0
The purpose of the social marketing
prepaid card initiative is to evaluate taxpayer knowledge, beliefs,
barriers and perception of the prepaid cardproviding first-hand
information that has not been collected to date. In Fiscal Year
(FY) 2009, the IRS initiated a formal effort to collaborate with
financial institutions (banks) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) sites to encourage taxpayers who do not request
direct-deposited refunds to opt for a prepaid card sponsored by the
financial institutions. These taxpayers are likely to be unbanked
and without means of freely cashing their refund check. The
perceived benefits of the prepaid card program are 1) faster
transfer of refunds to the taxpayer compared to the paper check
mode, and 2) low-cost transactions to use the refund amount. To
help improve participation, IRS is hoping to leverage the theory
and principles of social marketing. Social marketing principles and
practices apply marketing principles to social programs. This data
will provide the IRS with practical information to be used to
determine the value of offering the prepaid card to taxpayers in
the future.
Emergency approval is
requested on this ICR to meet agency needs and customer service.
VITA sites will begin tax services in the very near future to meet
taxpayer needs. per the arrangements requested by OMB we are
seeking approval by 1/13/2011.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the
IRSresponding to a Treasury request to decrease issuance of paper
checksinitiated a formal effort to collaborate with financial
institutions (banks) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
sites to encourage taxpayers who do not request direct-deposited
refunds to opt for a prepaid card sponsored by the financial
institutions. These taxpayers are likely to be unbanked and without
means of freely cashing their refund check. The perceived benefits
of the prepaid card program are 1) faster transfer of refunds to
the taxpayer compared to the paper check mode, and 2) low-cost
transactions to use the refund amount. The process involves
marketing of a prepaid card to taxpayers who are due a refund and
elect not to have their refund direct deposited. The IRS solicited
different banks for participation in the program. The result of
creating this survey will increase the burden by an estimated 542
hours and 5,734 responses. Based on a sample of potential
respondents of 9,556 and a response rate of 60%, we expect 5,734
survey participants leaving 3,822 non-participants.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.