On December 18, 2015, the President
signed into law the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015
(PATH Act), Pub. L. 144–113. Section 335(a) of the PATH Act amends
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) at 26 U.S.C. 5041 by
modifying the definition of hard cider for purposes of applying the
hard cider excise tax rate. Pursuant to section 335(b) of the PATH
Act, the amendment of the definition of hard cider applies to such
products removed on or after January 1, 2017. The PATH Act does not
change the tax rate applicable to wine eligible for the hard cider
tax rate; rather, it broadens the range of products to which the
hard cider tax rate applies. Among other things, beginning January
1, 2017, the percentage of alcohol by volume and the amount of
carbon dioxide allowed in wine that falls within the hard cider
tax-class will increase. In response to the PATH Act, TTB is
issuing a temporary rule (and a concurrent notice of proposed
rulemaking) titled “Implementation of Statutory Amendments
Requiring the Modification of the Definition of Hard Cider.” The
temporary rule will amend 27 CFR 24.302 by adding a new paragraph
(k) to require industry members to record the amount of carbon
dioxide in their artificially carbonated hard cider or naturally
sparkling hard cider. TTB has determined that this recordkeeping
requirement is necessary to protect the revenue and demonstrate
compliance with the statutory requirements regarding products
eligible for the hard cider tax rate because: (1) The PATH Act
raises the allowable carbon dioxide in hard cider tax rate-eligible
products from no more than 0.392 gram per 100 milliliters to no
more than 0.64 gram per 100 milliliters; and (2) The tax-rate
differential between hard cider, at $0.226 per wine gallon, and
that of artificially carbonated wine, at $3.30 per wine gallon, and
that of champagne and other naturally sparkling wines, at $3.40 per
wine gallon, is substantial (see 26 U.S.C. 5041(b)(4)) and
(b)(5).
US Code:
26
USC 5041 Name of Law: Internal Revenue Code
US Code: 26
USC 5368(b) Name of Law: Internal Revenue Code
PL: Pub.L. 114 - 113 335 (Div. Q) Name of
Law: PATH Act
TTB is requesting to implement
this information collection on an immediate basis in relation to a
TTB temporary rule that we are issuing in response to the
Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act; Division
Q of Pub. Law 114–113). This rulemaking implements section 335 of
the PATH Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the
definition of wines eligible for the hard cider tax rate of $0.226
per wine gallon. As a result, TTB is making a program change by
revising § 24.302 to require that the amount of carbon dioxide in
artificially carbonated hard cider or sparkling hard cider be
included in the effervescent wine record. (This is a new
collection; therefore, there are no adjustments.)
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.