Form THsupp.8-20-2015

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
INFORMATION COLLECTION SUBMISSION FOR FORM TH

A.

JUSTIFICATION
1.

Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary

Regulation S-T governs the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering,
Analysis, and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system. The EDGAR system is used by
issuers and other filers to electronically submit reports, schedules, forms and other
filings to the Commission. Regulation S-T sets forth instructions and
requirements for filing on EDGAR. Regulation S-T identifies filings that must be
filed electronically, exemptions from the electronic filing requirements and rules
discussing treatment of graphic and image material. In order to facilitate its
electronic filing requirements, the Commission developed special forms that were
unique to filing on EDGAR. One such specialized form is Form TH. As required
by Rule 201(a) of Regulation S-T, Form TH must be filed by any electronic filer
that submits to the Commission, pursuant to a temporary hardship exemption, a
document in paper format that otherwise would be required to be submitted
electronically.
2.

Purpose and Use of the Information Collection

Form TH provides notification to the Commission that an electronic filer
is relying on the temporary hardship exemption. Moreover, the information
required by the Commission permits verification of compliance with securities
law requirements and assures the public availability and dissemination of such
information.
3.

Consideration Given to Information Technology

Form TH is used to implement improved information dissemination
technology. The EDGAR system is designed to reduce the regulatory burden of
paper filings with the Commission.
4.

Duplication of Information

The EDGAR system is unique to the Commission; consequently no
duplication of Form TH exists.

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5.

Reducing the Burden on Small Entities

Small entities are permitted to file Form TH if they meet the requirements
of a temporary hardship exemption, which is outlined in Rule 201 of Regulation
S-T, but we do not expect the filing of Form TH to have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. EDGAR has been designed to
accommodate small entities to the greatest degree possible while still providing
for the public electronic dissemination of information.
6.

Consequences of Not Conducting Collection

Form TH must be used every time an electronic filer experiences
unanticipated technical difficulties preventing the timely preparation and
submission of a required electronic filing.
7.

Special Circumstances
Not applicable.

8.

Consultations with Persons Outside the Agency

Form TH was proposed for public comment. No comments were received
for this request during the 60-day comment period prior to OMB’s review of this
submission.
9.

Payment or Gift to Respondents
Not applicable.

10.

Confidentiality
Form TH is a public document.

11.

Sensitive Questions

No information of a sensitive nature would be required under this
collection of information. The information collection collects basic Personally
Identifiable Information (PII) that may include name, business address, and
residential address (for sole proprietor only), telephone/cellular/facsimile number,
email address, and Tax ID Number (TIN). The information collection is covered
under the System of Records Notices (SORN), which may be found at the
following link: http://www.sec.gov/about/privacy/sorn/secsorn3.pdf. The
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is provided as a supplemental document.

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12.

Estimate of Respondent Reporting Burden

For purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act (“PRA”), we estimate that
Form TH takes approximately 0.33 hours per response to comply with the
collection of information requirements and is filed by approximately 5 registrants.
We derived our burden hour estimates by estimating the average number of hours
it would take an electronic filer to compile the necessary information and data,
prepare and review disclosure, file documents and retain records. In connection
with rule amendments to the form, we occasionally receive PRA estimates from
public commenters about incremental burdens that are used in our burden
estimates. We believe that the actual burdens will likely vary among individual
companies based on the size and complexity of their organization and the nature
of their operations. We further estimate that 100% of the collection of
information burden is carried by the registrant internally. Based on our estimates,
we calculated the total reporting burden to be 2 hours (0.33 hours per response x 5
responses). For administrative convenience, the presentation of the totals related
to the paperwork burden hours have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
The estimated hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction
Act.
13.

Estimate of Total Annualized Cost Burden
There is no outside cost associated with the information collection.

14.

Costs to Federal Government

The estimated annual cost of reviewing and processing Form TH is
approximately $1000. Form TH is a simple cover sheet that identifies attached
information.
15.

Reason for Change in Burden

The decrease of (-21) burden hours is due a decrease in the number of
electronic filers filing Form THs with the Commission.
16.

Information Collection Planned for Statistical Purposes
Not applicable.

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17.

Approval to Omit Expiration Date

We request authorization to omit the expiration date on the electronic
version of the form. Including the expiration date on the electronic version of the
form will result in increased costs, because the need to make changes to the form
may not follow the application’s scheduled version release dates. The OMB
control number will be displayed.
18.

Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
Not applicable

B.

STATISTICAL METHODS
Not applicable.