In response to the emergency request memorandum submitted by Treasury on 08/15/2019, OIRA is approving Treasury's request for emergency approval for a period of six months. Prior to the expiration of this package in six months, Treasury shall undertake standard notice and comment procedures and describe in its next ICR submission all comments received and the extent to which commentators' recommendations were adopted.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
02/29/2020
6 Months From Approved
39,273
0
0
1,111
0
0
0
0
0
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducts the Comprehensive Taxpayer Attitude Survey as part of the Service-wide effort to maintain a system of balanced organizational performance measures mandated by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act (RRA) of 1998. This is also a result of Executive Order 12862 that requires all government agencies to survey their customers.
The IRSâ office of Research Applied Analytics & Statistics (RAAS) is sponsoring this annual survey (formerly conducted by the IRS Oversight Board) with the objective of better understanding what influences taxpayersâ tax compliance, their opinions of the IRS, and their customer service preferences, as well as how these taxpayer views change over time.
This survey has been conducted each year since 1999, running during August and September.
The Comprehensive Taxpayer Attitude Survey (CTAS) has been conducted in August of each year since 1999. The primary objective of the survey is to capture updated time series data on taxpayersâ tax compliance attitudes, service channel preferences, and behaviors, which can be compared to findings from previous surveys, providing insights into any changes in taxpayer views over time, which will provide greater insight into taxpayer attitudes, preferences, and behaviors that are of strategic importance to tax administration.
The survey began as part of the Service-wide initiative to maintain a system of balanced organizational performance measures mandated by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act (RRA) of 1998. This CTAS is also a result of Executive Order 12862 that requires all government agencies to survey their customers.
The results of CTAS are provided up the IRS chain of command to the Commissioner and are shared publicly, including publication in the annual IRS Data Book. Additionally, these results have received significant public interest, with information from the survey being cited regularly in national publications.
In light of this public disclosure of the survey results, OMB determined in August 2019 that it would be more compliant with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act for this survey not to be approved by OMB under an umbrella generic ICR, but rather for it to receive its own control number. Previously, this survey had been conducted under OMB Control Number 1545-1432, which is a generic ICR for customer feedback. Given the timeframe, it isnât possible for the IRS to follow normal clearance procedures to request a new OMB control number given the long-established schedule and preparations that have been made for the survey to be conducted in August and September 2019. As such, IRS requests OMB emergency approval of this new ICR by August 16, 2019.
Absent emergency approval, the IRS would be unable to field this survey in August 2019, which would create a break in the historical trend of data the IRS has been collecting for 20 years, will prevent the IRS from meeting its mandates required under the RRA, and will be a noticeable absence to the public which has grown accustomed to having this information available each year.
EO: EO 12862 Name/Subject of EO: Setting Customer Service Standards
PL:
Pub.L. 105 - 206 9508
Name of Law: Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998
Previously the Comprehensive Taxpayer Attitude Survey (CTAS) was approved under 1545-1432, however after consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, the Internal Revenue Service has decided to seek approval for the Comprehensive Taxpayer Attitude Survey (CTAS) separately from the remainder of the 1545-1432 OMB collection.
This is a change due to agency discretion, however as the survey has been approved previously, it does not reflect an actual increase in burden to the public.
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.
2019 CTAS Phone and Online Survey Methodologies.docx
Comprehensive Taxpayer Attitude Survey