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###### Department of the Treasury

###### Internal Revenue Service 

# AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury. 

# ACTION:

Notice and request for comments. 

      ( print page 20719)    

# 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 Revenue Procedure 2000-12, Application Procedures for Qualified Intermediary Status Under Section 1441; Final Qualified Intermediary Withholding Agreement. 

# DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before June 25, 2001 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 revenue procedure should be directed to Carol Savage, (202) 622-3945, Internal Revenue Service, room 5242, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

*Title:*                     Application Procedures for Qualified Intermediary Status Under Section 1441; Final Qualified Intermediary Withholding Agreement.                 

*OMB Number:*                     1545-1597.                 

*Revenue Procedure Number:*                     Revenue Procedure 2000-12.                 

*Abstract:*                     This revenue procedure gives guidance for entering into a withholding agreement with the IRS to be treated as a Qualified Intermediary (QI) under regulation section 1.1441-1(e)(5). It describes the application procedures for becoming a QI and the terms that the IRS will ordinarily require in a QI withholding agreement. The objective of a QI withholding agreement is to simplify withholding and reporting obligations with respect to payments of income made to an account holder through one or more foreign intermediaries.                 

*Current Actions:*                     There are no changes being made to Revenue Procedure 2000-12 at this time.                 

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

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit organizations.                 

*Estimated Number of Respondents/Recordkeepers:*                     88,504.                 

*Estimated Time for QI Account Holder:*                     30 minutes.                 

*Estimated Time for a QI:*                     2,093 hours.                 

*Estimated Total Annual Reporting/Recordkeeping Hours:*                     301,018.                 

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. 01-10161 Filed 4-23-01; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830-01-P