Wage and Investment Strategies and Solutions Behavioral Laboratory Customer Surveys and Support

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Supporting Statement (Part B)_1545-2274 .docx Supporting Statement B	2020-05-28
OMB Behavioral Lab WISS Supporting Statement_2020_1545-2274.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-05-28

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
246859	2021 IRS Tax Assistance Survey Other-Draft Survey	New
245371	TES Focus Groups Other-survey	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1545-2274	ICR Reference No: 202004-1545-017
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201809-1545-018
Agency/Subagency: TREAS/IRS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Wage and Investment Strategies and Solutions Behavioral Laboratory Customer Surveys and Support
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 05/28/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	450,000	150,000
Time Burden (Hours)	150,000	150,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: As outlined in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Strategic Plan, the Agency is working towards allocating IRS resources strategically to address the evolving scope and increasing complexity of tax administration. In order to do this, IRS must realize their operational efficiencies and effectively manage costs by improving enterprise-wide resource allocation and streamlining processes using feedback from various behavioral research techniques. To assist the Agency is accomplishing the goal outlined in the Strategic Plan, the Wage and Investment Division continuously maintains a "customer-first" focus through routinely soliciting information concerning the needs and characteristics of its customers and implementing programs based on the information received. W&I Strategies and Solutions (WISS), is developing the implementation of a Behavioral Laboratory to identify, plan and deliver business improvement processes that support fulfillment of the IRS strategic goals. The collection of information through the Behavioral Laboratory is necessary to enable the Agency to garner customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the commitment to improving taxpayer service delivery. Improving agency programs requires ongoing assessment of service delivery. WISS, through the Behavioral Laboratory, will collect, analyze, and interpret information gathered through this generic clearance to identify strengths and weaknesses of current services and make improvements in service delivery based on feedback provided by taxpayers and employees of the Internal Revenue Service.

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Authorizing Statute(s): EO: EO 12862 Name/Subject of EO: Setting Customer Service Standards
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 13707	03/09/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 31852	05/27/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 0

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	450,000	150,000	0	0	300,000	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	150,000	150,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 05/28/2020

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