# 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                         Start Printed Page 3272                        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 Form 8865, Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships.                     

# DATES:

 Written comments should be received on or before March 20, 2000 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. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Title:*                     Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships.                 

*OMB Number:*                     1545-1668.                 

*Form Number:*                     8865.                 

*Abstract:*                     The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 significantly modified the information reporting requirements with respect to foreign partnerships. The Act made the following three changes:                 

(1) Expanded Code section 6038B to require U.S. persons transferring property to foreign partnerships in certain transactions to report those transfers; (2) expanded Code section 6038 to require certain U.S. partners of controlled foreign partnerships to report information about the partnerships; and (3) modified the reporting required under Code section 6046A with respect to acquisitions and dispositions of foreign partnership interests. Form 8865 will be used by U.S. persons to fulfill their reporting obligations under Code sections 6038B, 6038, and 6046A. 

*Current Actions:*                     There are no changes being made to the form at this time.                 

*Type of Review:*                     Extension of a currently approved collection.                 

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit organizations, individuals, and not-for-profit institutions.                 

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     5,000.                 

*Estimated Time Per Respondent:*                     30 hours, 48 minutes.                 

*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:*                     154,015.                 

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 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. 

## 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. 

Garrick R. Shear, 

IRS Reports Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 00-1385 Filed 1-19-00; 8:45 am] 

BILLIING CODE 4830-01-U