Supporting Statement final

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

OMB Control Number 1545-1878

Form 8879-EO

1. CIRCUMSTANCES NECESSITATING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION

The Form 8879-EO, IRS e-file Signature Authorization for an Exempt Organization, Form 8879-EO authorizes an officer of an exempt organization and an electronic return originator (ERO) to use a personal identification number (PIN) to electronically sign an organization’s electronic tax return and, if applicable, Electronic Funds Withdrawal Consent.

The authority is Internal Revenue Code section 6011(f) (P.L. 105-206, Title II, Sections 2001 through 2005)

2. USE OF DATA

The form is an integral part of the Modernized e-file program of the Internal Revenue Service. It will enable an officer of an exempt organization and an electronic return originator (ERO) to use a personal identification number (PIN) to electronically sign a corporation’s electronic income tax return and, if applicable, Electronic Funds Withdrawal Consent.

3. USE OF IMPROVED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE BURDEN

This form is not intended to be electronically filed. It is retained by the Electronic Return Originator (ERO) for a period of 3 years from the return due date or IRS received date, whichever is later.

4. EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION

We have attempted to eliminate duplication within the agency wherever possible.

5. METHODS TO MINIMIZE BURDEN ON SMALL BUSINESSES OR OTHER SMALL ENTITIES

There are no methods to minimize burden on small businesses or other small entities.

6. CONSEQUENCES OF LESS FREQUENT COLLECTION ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS OR POLICY ACTIVITIES

Less frequent collection of information could result in not authorizing officers of an exempt organization and an electronic return originator (ERO) permission to use a personal identification number (PIN) to electronically sign a corporation’s electronic income tax return resulting in noncompliance.

7. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING DATA COLLECTION TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH GUIDELINES IN 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)

There are no special circumstances requiring data collections to be inconsistent with Guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. CONSULTATION WITH INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY ON AVAILABILITY OF DATA, FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION, CLARITY OF INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS, AND DATA ELEMENTS

Periodic meetings are held between IRS personnel and representatives of the American Bar Association, the National Society of Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and other professional groups to discuss tax law and tax forms. During these meetings, there is an opportunity for those attending to make comments regarding Form 8879-EO.

In response to the Federal Register notice dated November 17, 2016, (81 FR 81243), we received no comments during the comment period regarding Form 8879-EO.

9. EXPLANATION OF DECISION TO PROVIDE ANY PAYMENT OR GIFT TO RESPONDENTS

No payment or gift will be provided to any respondents.

10. ASSURANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF RESPONSES

Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential as required by 26 USC 6103.

11. JUSTIFICATION OF SENSITIVE QUESTIONS

A privacy impact assessment (PIA) has been conducted for information collected under this request as part of the “Business Master File (BMF)” system and a Privacy Act System of Records notice (SORN) has been issued for this system under IRS 24.046-Customer Account Data Engine Business Master File; IRS 34.037 Audit Trail; IRS 42.008 Audit Information Management System;

IRS 50.222 Tax Exempt/Government Entities (TE/GE)Case Management Records and Security Records system; IRS 22.062 Electronic Filing Records and Automatic Non-Master File (ANMF).

The Internal Revenue Service PIAs can be found at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Privacy-Impact-Assessments-PIA.

Title 26 USC 6109 requires inclusion of identifying numbers in returns, statements, or other documents for securing proper identification of persons required to make such returns, statements, or documents and is the authority for social security numbers (SSNs) in IRS systems.

12. ESTIMATED BURDEN OF INFORMATION COLLECTION

The burden estimate is as follows:

Number of Time per Total

Responses Response Hours

Form 8879-EO 94,603 4.29 Hours 425,714

Recordkeeping: 3 hr., 49 min.

Learning about the law or the form: 18 min.

Preparing, copying, assembling, and sending: 22 min.

13. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL COST BURDEN TO RESPONDENTS

There were no estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services provided to respondents.

14. ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The primary cost to the government consists of the cost of printing Form 8879-EO. We estimate that the cost of printing the form is $300.

15. REASONS FOR CHANGE IN BURDEN

There is no change in the paperwork burden previously approved by OMB.

We are making this submission to renew the OMB approval.

16. PLANS FOR TABULATION, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION

There are no plans for tabulation, statistical analysis, and publication.

17. REASONS WHY DISPLAYING THE OMB EXPIRATION DATE IS INAPPROPRIATE

We believe the public interest will be better served by not printing an expiration date on the form(s) in this package.

Printing the expiration date on the form will result in increased costs because of the need to replace inventories that become obsolete by passage of the expiration date each time OMB approval is renewed. Without printing the expiration date, supplies of the form could continue to be used.

The time period during which the current edition of the form(s) in this package will continue to be usable cannot be predicted. It could easily span several cycles of review and OMB clearance renewal. In addition, usage fluctuates unpredictably. This makes it necessary to maintain a substantial inventory of forms in the supply line at all times. This includes supplies owned by both the Government and the public. Reprinting of the form cannot be reliably scheduled to coincide with an OMB approval expiration date. This form may be privately printed by users at their own expense. Some businesses print complex and expensive marginally punched continuous versions, at their expense, for use in their computers. The form may be printed by commercial printers and stocked for sale. In such cases, printing the expiration date on the form could result in extra costs to the users.

Not printing the expiration date on the form(s) will also avoid confusion among taxpayers who may have identical forms with different expiration dates in their possession.

For the above reasons we request authorization to omit printing the expiration date on the form(s) in this package.

18. EXCEPTIONS TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

There are no exceptions to the certification statement for this collection.

Note: The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information in this submission:

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.