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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)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning information collection requirements related to tax exempt housing bonds and 2008 housing legislation.

# DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before May 21, 2012 to be assured of consideration.

# ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Yvette B. Lawrence, Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Requests for additional information or copies of notice should be directed to Joel Goldberger, at (202) 927-9368, or at Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the Internet, at                         *Joel.P.Goldberger@irs.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Title:*                     Tax Exempt Housing Bonds and 2008 Housing Legislation.                

*OMB Number:*                     1545-2119.                

*Notice Number:*                     Notice 2008-79.                

*Abstract:*                     This notice provides guidance regarding certain provisions affecting tax-exempt bonds and related matters under the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008, Division C of Public Law No. 110-289, enacted on July 30, 2008 (“2008 Housing Act”). Section 3021 of the 2008 Housing Act amends §§ 143 and 146 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) to provide a temporary $11  billion increase in the annual private activity bond volume cap under § 146 for qualified housing issues and to allow the use  of qualified mortgage bonds to refinance certain subprime mortgage loans. (Except as otherwise provided, section references  in this notice are to the Code.) This notice provides guidance on allocations, carryforwards, information reporting, and uses of  this additional bond volume cap, and guidance on the use of qualified mortgage revenue bonds to refinance certain subprime  mortgage loans. In addition, § 3005 of the 2008 Housing Act amends § 142(d)(2) of the Code to disregard basic housing allowance payments to military members at certain military bases for purposes of applicable low-income set-aside income limitations under § 42 and § 142. This notice lists certain affected military bases. Section 3023 of the 2008 Housing Act  provides temporary authority to Federal Home Loan Banks to guarantee certain tax-exempt bonds. This notice provides  guidance on tax-exempt bonds eligible for such guarantees.                

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

*Type of Review:*                     This is an extension of a currently approved collection.                

*Affected Public:*                     State, local, or tribal governments.                

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     100.                

*Estimated Average Time per Respondent:*                     2 hours.                

*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:*                     300.                

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 8, 2012.

Yvette B. Lawrence,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 2012-6754 Filed 3-20-12; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830-01-P