[4830-01-u] DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service 26 CFR Parts 1 and 301 [IA-41-93] RIN 1545-AS04 Automatic Extension of Time for Filing Individual Income Tax Returns AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking by cross reference to temporary regulations and notice of public hearing. SUMMARY: In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations that reflect the new procedures for obtaining an automatic extension of time to file an individual income tax return. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the comment document for this notice of proposed rulemaking. This document also provides notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations. DATES: Written comments must be received by April 1, 1996. Outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for May 8, 1996, beginning at 10:00 a.m. must be received by April 1, 1996. ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:DOM:CORP:R (IA-41-93), room 5228, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. In the alternative, submissions may be hand delivered between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to: CC:DOM:CORP:R (IA-41-93), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The public hearing will be held in the IRS Auditorium. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the regulations, Margaret A. Owens, 202-622-6232 (not a toll-free number). Concerning submissions and the public hearing, Michael Slaughter, 202-622-7190 (not a toll-free number). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Paperwork Reduction Act The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed rulemaking has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507). Comments on the collection of information should be sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, T:FP, Washington, DC 20224. Comments on the collection of information should be received by March 4, 1996. 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 control number. The collection of information is in 1.6081-4T(a). This information is required by the IRS to monitor the filing of individual income tax returns. This information will be used to determine which individuals need automatic 4-month extensions of time to file. The likely respondents are individuals or households. Responses to this collection of information are required to obtain a benefit (an automatic 4-month extension of time to file an individual income tax return). 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. Estimates of the reporting burden in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be reflected in the burden of Form 4868. Background The temporary regulations published in the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register contain amendments to the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) and the Regulations on Procedure and Administration (26 CFR part 301). The temporary regulations provide rules relating to obtaining an automatic 4-month extension of time to file an individual income tax return. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains these proposed regulations. Special Analyses It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in EO 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It also has been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) do not apply to these rules, and therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business. Comments and Public Hearing Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any written comments (a signed original and eight (8) copies) that are submitted timely to the IRS. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying. A public hearing has been scheduled for May 8, 1996, at 10:00 a.m., at the IRS Auditorium. Because of access restrictions, visitors will not be admitted beyond the building lobby more than 15 minutes before the hearing starts. The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons who wish to present oral comments at the hearing must submit written comments by April 1, 1996, and submit an outline of the topics to be discussed and the time to be devoted to each topic (signed original and eight (8) copies) by April 1, 1996. A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person for making comments. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be prepared after the deadline for receiving comments has passed. Copies of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing. Drafting Information The principal author of these regulations is Margaret A. Owens, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax & Accounting), IRS. However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development. List of Subjects 26 CFR Part 1 Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. 26 CFR Part 301 Employment taxes, Estate taxes, Excise taxes, Gift taxes, Income taxes, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Proposed Amendments to the Regulations Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 301 are proposed to be amended as follows: PART 1--INCOME TAXES Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in part as follows: Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805. * * * Par. 2. Section 1.6081-4 is amended by: 1. Revising paragraph (a). 2. Adding paragraph (d). The revised and added provisions read as follows: 1.6081-4 Automatic extension of time for filing individual income tax returns. [The text of proposed paragraphs (a) and (d) are the same as the text of 1.6081-4T(a) and (d) published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register]. PART 301--PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION Par. 3. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read in part as follows: Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805. * * * Par. 4. In 301.6651-1, paragraph (c)(3) is revised to read as follows: 301.6651-1 Failure to file tax return or to pay tax. * * * * * (c)(3) [The text of this proposed paragraph (c)(3) is the same as the text of 301.6651-1T(c)(3) published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register]. * * * * * Commissioner of Internal Revenue Margaret Milner Richardson