The IRS is charged with collecting
revenue legally owed to the federal government. One important
category of income comes in the form of tips. Previous empirical
research has shown income from tips to be significantly
underreported, limiting the IRS's ability to collect the proper
amount of tax revenue. The IRS believes a new study of consumer
tipping practices is needed in order to better understand current
tip reporting behavior so tax administrators and policy makers can
make the tax system fairer and more efficient. Therefore, the IRS
wishes to develop updated estimates of consumer tipping revenue
across numerous services where tipping is prevalent. In support of
this mission, IRS is seeking a standard clearance to conduct a
one-month pilot test in preparation for a nation-wide consumer
tipping survey. There exists a substantial difference in the cost
per response between a probability and non-probability sample.
Pilot tests are therefore necessary to determine the relative
accuracy and selection bias of tipping data that are collected
using these different sampling methodologies in order to determine
if there is tradeoff between accuracy and cost. The results of the
pilot will be used to determine the sampling method employed in a
nation-wide survey.
EO: EO
12862 Name/Subject of EO: Customer Service Surveys
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.