SS.wpd

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

(Electronic Sales Kit: Interview Guide)

1. CIRCUMSTANCES NECESSITATING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION

The Interview Guide is an internal product to be used, though not a requirement, by IRS Wage & Investment Division (W&I) - Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) and Small Business/Self-Employed Division (SB/SE) – Taxpayer Education and Communication (TEC) Field employees. This guide may be used for making initial phone contact to set up in-person visitations or telemarketing calls to tax professionals encouraging them to e-file a greater percentage of their returns. The guide provides suggested questions that may be asked to gain a better understanding of how the tax preparer currently uses e-file and their general attitude towards e-filing. Based upon the responses, SPEC and TEC Field employees will be in a better position to direct a conversation leading to demonstrating how e-file will benefit the tax preparer’s overall practice. The questions support the consultative sales materials and techniques by customizing the questions to be IRS e-file specific.

2. USE OF DATA

Information provided allows SPEC and TEC Field employees to be in a better position to direct a conversation (or presentation) leading to demonstrating how e-file will benefit the tax preparer’s overall practice. The SPEC and TEC Field employees are not required to capture any of the responses offered by the tax professional, but may do so to record the information for follow up and/or relationship building purposes. The data will be used primarily for identifying market trends, satisfaction and attitudinal behavior towards e-filing.

3. USE OF IMPROVED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE BURDEN

The Interview Guide will be posted electronically and may be printed, as needed.

4. EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION

We have attempted to eliminate duplication within the agency wherever possible.

5. METHODS TO MINIMIZE BURDEN ON SMALL BUSINESSES OR OTHER SMALL ENTITIES

Not applicable.

6. CONSEQUENCES OF LESS FREQUENT COLLECTION ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS OR POLICY ACTIVITIES

Not applicable.

7. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING DATA COLLECTION TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH GUIDELINES IN 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)

Not applicable.

8. CONSULTATION WITH INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY ON AVAILABILITY OF DATA, FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION, CLARITY OF INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS, AND DATA ELEMENTS

As suggested by OMB, our Federal Register notice dated May 12, 2006 (71 FR 27793), requested public comments on estimates of cost burden that are not captured in the estimates of burden hours, i.e., estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. However, we did not receive any response from taxpayers on this subject. As a result, estimates of the cost burdens are not available at this time.

9. EXPLANATION OF DECISION TO PROVIDE ANY PAYMENT OR GIFT TO RESPONDENTS

Not applicable.

10. ASSURANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF RESPONSES

Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential as required by 26 USC 6103.

11. JUSTIFICATION OF SENSITIVE QUESTIONS

Not applicable.

12. ESTIMATED BURDEN OF INFORMATION COLLECTION

The burden estimate is as follows:

Number of Time per Total

Responses Response Hours

2,000 1.5 3,000

Estimates of the annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens shown are not available at this time.

13. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL COST BURDEN TO RESPONDENTS

As suggested by OMB, our Federal Register notice dated May 12, 2006 (71 FR 27793), requested public comments on estimates of cost burden that are not captured in the estimates of burden hours, i.e., estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. However, we did not receive any response from taxpayers on this subject. As a result, estimates of the cost burdens are not available at this time.

14. ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Interview Guide will be posted electronically and may be printed, as needed. The cost in posting, testing, and maintaining the Interview Guide electronically involves one (1) hour from an IRS employee at the GS-11 pay scale from St. Louis, or $22.73 (or, 0.02273 in thousands of dollars).

15. REASONS FOR CHANGE IN BURDEN

There is no change in the burden previously approved by OMB. We are making this submission to renew the OMB approval.

16. PLANS FOR TABULATION, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION

Not applicable.

17. REASONS WHY DISPLAYING THE OMB EXPIRATION DATE IS INAPPROPRIATE

See attachment.

18. EXCEPTIONS TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT ON OMB FORM 83-I

Not applicable.

Note: The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information in this submission:

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.

4