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###### Department of the Treasury

###### Internal Revenue Service

# 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 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 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief.

# DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before May 21, 2007 to be assured of consideration.

# ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Glenn P. Kirkland, Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Carolyn N. Brown at Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224, or at (202) 622-6688, or through the Internet at                         *Carolyn.N.Brown@irs.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Title:*                     Request for Innocent Spouse Relief.                

*OMB Number:*                     1545-1596.                

*Form Number:*                     8857.                

*Abstract:*                     Section 6013(e) of the Internal Revenue Code allows taxpayers to request, and IRS to grant, “innocent spouse” relief when: the taxpayer files a joint return with tax substantially understated; the taxpayer establishes no knowledge of, or benefit from, the understatement; and it would be inequitable to hold the taxpayer liable. Form 8857 is used to request relief from liability of an understatement of tax on a joint return resulting from a grossly erroneous item attributable to the spouse.                

*Current Actions:*                     There were 63 lines, 3 pages, and 9,803 words added to the form, due to major changes during revision.                

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

*Affected Public:*                     Individuals or households.                

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     50,000.                

*Estimated Time Per Respondent:*                     4 hours, 10 minutes.                

*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:*                     208,500.                

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.                

Approved: March 12, 2007.

Glenn P. Kirkland,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.

 [FR Doc. E7-4964 Filed 3-19-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830-01-P