Supporting Statement
(Form 712)
1. CIRCUMSTANCES NECESSITATING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION
The proceeds of life insurance policies on the decedent’s life are subject to Federal estate tax under the rules of Code section 2042. The values of insurance on the life of someone other than the decedent, but owned by the decedent at death, are subject to federal estate tax under Code section 2033. A gift of a life insurance policy subjects the value of the policy to gift tax under Code section 2511. The policies are valued for estate tax purposes under the rules of Code section 2031.
2. USE OF DATA
Form 712 provides the taxpayers and the IRS with the information to determine if insurance on the decedent’s life is includible in the gross estate, and to determine the value of the policy for estate and gift tax purposes.
3. USE OF IMPROVED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE BURDEN
We have no plans to offer electronic filing because of low filing volume compared to cost of electronic enabling.
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.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING DATA COLLECTION TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH GUIDELINES IN 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)
Not applicable.
CONSULTATION WITH INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY ON AVAILABILITY OF DATA, FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION, CLARITY OF INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS, AND DATA ELEMENTS
Periodic meetings are held between IRS personnel and representatives of the American Bar Association, the National Society of Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and other professional groups to discuss tax law and tax forms. During these meetings, there is an opportunity for those attending to make comments regarding Form 712.
In response to the Federal Register Notice dated May 30, 2012(77 FR 31912), we received no comments during the comment period regarding Form 712.
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
Number of Time per Total
Form Responses Response Hours
712 60,000 18.67 1,120,200
Estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens shown above are not available at this time.
The following regulations impose no additional burden. Please continue to assign OMB number 1545-0022 to these regulations.
25.6001-1(b) 20.6018-4
We have reviewed the regulations and have determined that the reporting requirements contained in them are entirely reflected on the form. The justification appearing in item 1 of the supporting statement applies both to the regulations and to the form.
13. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL COST BURDEN TO RESPONDENTS
As suggested by OMB, our Federal Register Notice dated May 30, 2012, 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 responses from taxpayers on this subject. As a result, estimates of these cost burdens are not available at this time.
14. ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The primary cost to the government consists of the cost of printing this form. We estimate that the cost of printing the form is $700.
15. REASONS FOR CHANGE IN BURDEN
There is no change in the paperwork burden previously approved by OMB. This form is being submitted for renewal purposes only.
16. PLANS FOR TABULATION, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION
Not applicable.
REASONS WHY DISPLAYING THE OMB EXPIRATION DATE IS INAPPROPRIATE
See attachment.
EXCEPTION 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.
OMB EXPIRATION DATE
We believe the public interest will be better served by not printing an expiration date on the form(s) in this package.
Printing the expiration date on the form will result in increased costs because of the need to replace inventories that become obsolete by passage of the expiration date each time OMB approval is renewed. Without printing the expiration date, supplies of the form could continue to be used.
The time period during which the current edition of the form(s) in this package will continue to be usable cannot be predicted. It could easily span several cycles of review and OMB clearance renewal. In addition, usage fluctuates unpredictably. This makes it necessary to maintain a substantial inventory of forms in the supply line at all times. This includes supplied owned by both the Government and the public. Reprinting of the form cannot be reliably scheduled to coincide with an OMB approval expiration date. This form may be privately printed by users at their own expense. Some businesses print complex and expensive marginally punched continuous versions, their expense, for use in their computers. The form may be printed by commercial printers and stocked for sale. In such cases, printing the expiration date on the form could result in extra costs to the users.
Not printing the expiration date on the form(s) will also avoid confusion among taxpayers who may have identical forms with different expiration dates in their possession.
For the above reasons we request authorization to omit printing the expiration date on the form(s) in this package.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement |
| Author | qhrfb |
| Last Modified By | J11FB |
| File Modified | 2012-07-31 |
| File Created | 2009-05-19 |