Administrators of PBGC-insured pension plans file with PBGC premium information and premium payments required under 29 USC 1307 and 29 CFR Part 4007, which also requires retention and production of records necessary to support premium filings. The information identifies payers and lets PBGC verify premium computations and perform premium audits. It also helps PBGC estimate its exposure if plans terminate, track movement of participants and assets, determine whether new plans are being created, and update its insured-plan inventory. The retained records facilitate audits.
The change in the estimated annual burden of this collection of information from about 8,200 hours and about $54,387,000 (the currently approved burden) to about 8,900 hours and about $59,300,000 (the burden for which approval is requested) is attributable to an upward adjustment of about 1,550 hours and about $10,600,000 due to re-estimation and a downward change of about 850 hours and about $5,700,000 resulting from the elimination of the early large-plan flat-rate filing.
The upward adjustment and downward change both reflect remarks made by practicing actuaries when the topic of premium due dates and their impact on the burden of filing was raised during a session on PBGC premiums at an actuaries' meeting. Heretofore, PBGC has relied on burden estimates by PBGC staff actuaries familiar with the work required to prepare premium filings. PBGC believes that the views of actuaries currently in private practice are an appropriate "real-world" source to draw from in estimating the burden of this information collection.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.