Supporting Statement 1545-1921

5

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Internal Revenue Service

Continuation Sheet for Item # 15 (Additional Information) OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment

OMB Control Number 1545-1921

1. CIRCUMSTANCES NECESSITATING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION

Government Organization and Employees (GOE) Section 3301 addresses the admission of individuals into the civil services; ascertain the fitness, age, health, character, knowledge, and ability of for the employment. GOE Section 3304 gives the president the authority to conduct competitive examinations for testing applicants for appointment in the competitive service, noncompetitive examinations when competent applicants do not compete after notice has been given of the existence of the vacancy; and for agencies to appoint, candidates directly to positions also known as direct hire. Form 12114 is used as a continuation sheet to clearly define additional information that is requested in item 15 of the OF-306. Due to lack of space on the OF-306 this form can be used in lieu of an additional sheet of paper.

2. USE OF DATA

Form 12114 will be completed by applicants, if necessary, when applying for consideration for Federal Employment. The form will be used by the Personnel Offices to review the applicants’ background information when making suitability determinations.

3. USE OF IMPROVED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE BURDEN

The IRS plans to electronically enabled both existing and future tax products on a practicable basis in accordance with the IRS Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998. Due to the low number of applicants, the IRS has no plans to offer electronic filing for this collection.

4. EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION

The information obtained through this collection is unique and is not already available or use or adaption from another source.

5. METHODS TO MINIMIZE BURDEN ON SMALL BUSINESSES OR OTHER SMALL ENTITIES

There is no burden on small businesses or other small entities due to the inapplicability of the authorizing statute to this type of entity.

6. CONSEQUENCES OF LESS FREQUENT COLLECTION ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS OR POLICY ACTIVITIES

The information required is needed to review the applicants’ background information when making suitability determinations. A less frequent collection of information could adversely affect the government’s effectiveness in hiring qualified applicants and in turn could hinder IRS from meeting its mission.

1. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING DATA COLLECTION TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH GUIDELINES IN 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)

There are no special circumstances requiring data collection to be inconsistent with Guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. CONSULTATION WITH INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY ON AVAILABILITY OF DATA, FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION, CLARITY OF INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS, AND DATA ELEMENTS

In response to the Federal Register notice dated October 1, 2020 (85 FR 62014), we received no comments during the comment period regarding these regulations.

9. EXPLANATION OF DECISION TO PROVIDE ANY PAYMENT OR GIFT TO RESPONDENTS

No payment or gift has been provided to any respondents.

9. ASSURANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF RESPONSES

Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential as required by 26 USC 6103.

9. JUSTIFICATION OF SENSITIVE QUESTIONS

A privacy impact assessment (PIA) has been conducted for information collected under this request as part of the “Individual Master File (IMF)” system and a Privacy Act System of Records notice (SORN) has been issued for this system under IRS 24.030--Customer Account Data Engine Individual Master File, formerly Individual Master File, and IRS 34.037--IRS Audit Trail and Security Records System. The Internal Revenue Service PIAs can be found at

https://www.irs.gov/uac/Privacy-Impact-Assessments-PIA

Title 26 USC 6109 requires inclusion of identifying numbers in returns, statements, or other documents for securing proper identification of persons required to make such returns, statements, or documents and is the authority for social security numbers (SSNs) in IRS systems.

9. ESTIMATED BURDEN OF INFORMATION COLLECTION

This form is provided to applicants when completing OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment. It is used as a continuation sheet to clearly define additional information that is requested in item 15 of the OF-306. Due to lack of space on the OF-306 this form can be used in lieu of an additional sheet of paper.

	Description	# Respondents	# Responses Per Respondent	Total Annual Responses	Hours Per Response	Total Burden
Form 12114	Continuation Sheet for Item # 15 (Additional Information) OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment	24,813	1	24,813	.25	6,203
		24,813	1	24,813		6,203

9. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL COST BURDEN TO RESPONDENTS

To ensure more accuracy and consistency across its information collections, IRS is currently in the process of revising the methodology it uses to estimate burden and costs. Once this methodology is complete, IRS will update this information collection to reflect a more precise estimate of burden and costs.

14. ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

To ensure more accuracy and consistency across its information collections, IRS is currently in the process of revising the methodology it uses to estimate burden and costs. Once this methodology is complete, IRS will update this information collection to reflect a more precise estimate of burden and costs. At the present time, the IRS estimates an annual cost of printing to be $2,950.

Product	Labor & Downstream Impact Costs		Print & Shipping Costs		Government Cost Estimate per Product
12114	$ 0		$ 2,950		$2,950
Grand Total	$ 0		$ 2,950		$2,950

1. REASONS FOR CHANGE IN BURDEN

There is no change in the paperwork burden previously approved by OMB.

15. PLANS FOR TABULATION, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION

There are no plans for tabulation, statistical analysis, and publication.

15. REASONS WHY DISPLAYING THE OMB EXPIRATION DATE IS INAPPROPRIATE

We believe that displaying the OMB expiration date is inappropriate because it could cause confusion by leading taxpayers to believe that the form sunsets as of the expiration date. Taxpayers are not likely to be aware that the Service intends to request renewal of the OMB approval and obtain a new expiration date before the old one expires.

15. EXCEPTIONS TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

Note: The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information in this submission:

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.