8038-B Instructions for Form 8038-B

Instructions for Form 8038-B

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

(Rev. September 2018)

Information Return for Build America Bonds and Recovery Zone Economic
Development Bonds
Section references are to the Internal Revenue
Code unless otherwise noted.

Future Developments

For the latest information about
developments related to Form 8038-B and
its instructions, such as legislation
enacted after they were published, go to
IRS.gov/Form8038B.

What’s New

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97)
repealed the authority to issue tax-credit
bonds and direct-pay bonds. The repeal
applies to qualified forestry conservation
bonds, new clean renewable energy
bonds, qualified energy conservation
bonds, qualified zone academy bonds,
and qualified school construction bonds
issued after December 31, 2017. The
authority to issue recovery zone economic
development bonds and build America
bonds expired on January 1, 2011.
The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 created three
types of build America bonds. Section
54AA added both Tax Credit and Direct
Pay build America bonds. Section
1400U-2 added recovery zone economic
development bonds, a form of direct pay
build America bonds. Notice 2009-26
required that subject to updated IRS
information reporting forms or procedures,
all three types of build America bonds
were to be reported on Form 8038-G,
Information Return for Tax-Exempt
Governmental Bonds.

General Instructions
Purpose of Form

Beginning February 2010, Form 8038-B is
to be used by issuers of build America
bonds (Tax Credit), build America bonds
(Direct Pay), and recovery zone economic
development bonds to provide the IRS
with the information required by section
149(e).

Who Must File

Governmental issuers of build America
bonds and recovery zone economic
development bonds must file a separate
Form 8038-B for each issue of build
America bonds and recovery zone
economic development bonds issued after
February 2010 and before January 1,
2011.

Aug 30, 2018

Note. Build America bonds (Tax Credit),
build America bonds (Direct Pay), and
recovery zone economic development
bonds must each be reported on a
separate Form 8038-B. This instruction
applies regardless of whether the single
issue consists of variable rate, fixed rate,
or both variable rate and fixed rate bonds.

When To File

File Form 8038-B on or before the 15th
day of the 2nd calendar month after the
close of the calendar quarter in which the
bond was issued. Form 8038-B may not
be filed before the issue date and must be
completed based on the facts as of the
issue date.
For build America bonds (Direct Pay)
and for recovery zone economic
development bonds, Form 8038-B must
be filed at least 30 days prior to the
submission of the first Form 8038-CP,
Return for Credit Payments to Issuers of
Qualified Bonds, that is filed to request
payment with respect to an interest
payment date for that issue.
Failure to complete the form including
the attached schedules may result in a
delay in processing this form. All attached
schedules must include the issuer's name
and EIN at the top.
Late filing. An issuer may be granted an
extension of time to file Form 8038-B
under Rev. Proc. 2002-48, 2002-37 I.R.B.
531. Type or print at the top of the form,
“Request for Relief under Section 3 of
Rev. Proc. 2002-48.” See Rev. Proc.
2002-48 for complete information on
requirements for an extension of time to
file Form 8038-B.
Note. If Form 8038-B is filed late, it still
must be filed 30 days prior to the
submission of the first Form 8038-CP for
that issue.

Where To File

File Form 8038-B and any attachments
with the Department of the Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service Center, Ogden,
UT 84201.

Private delivery services. You can use
certain private delivery services (PDS)
designated by the IRS to meet the “timely
mailing as timely filing” rule for tax returns.
Go to IRS.gov/PDS for the current list of
designated services.
Cat. No. 54165A

The PDS can tell you how to get written
proof of the mailing date.
For the IRS mailing address to use if
you're using PDS, go to IRS.gov/
PDSstreetAddresses.
PDS can’t deliver items to P.O.
boxes. You must use the U.S.
CAUTION Postal Service to mail any item to
an IRS P.O. box address.

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Other Forms That May Be
Required

For issuers who elect under section 6431
to receive a direct payment from the
federal government equal to a percentage
of the interest payment, issuers must
request the payment on Form 8038-CP.
Each Form 8038-CP can only relate to the
interest paid on a single bond issue.
For rebating arbitrage (or paying a
penalty in lieu of arbitrage rebate) to the
federal government, use Form 8038-T,
Arbitrage Rebate, Yield Reduction and
Penalty in Lieu of Arbitrage Rebate.
If the bond issue consists of both
tax-exempt bonds and build America
bonds, the issuer must report the
tax-exempt portion on Form 8038-G and
the build America bond portion on Form
8038-B.

Rounding to Whole Dollars

You can round off cents to whole dollars. If
you do round to whole dollars, you must
round all amounts. To round, drop
amounts under 50 cents and increase
amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next
dollar (for example, $1.39 becomes $1
and $2.50 becomes $3).
If two or more amounts must be added
to figure the amount to enter on a line,
include cents when adding the amounts
and round off only the total.

Definitions
Build America bond (Tax Credit). This
is an issue of taxable state or local
governmental bonds (excluding private
activity bonds under section 141) as
defined in section 54AA(d) that provides a
tax credit to the holder of the bond.
Build America bond (Direct Pay). This
is an issue of taxable state or local
governmental bonds (excluding private
activity bonds under section 141) as
defined in section 54AA(g), the issuer of

which elects to receive a refundable credit
under section 6431 in lieu of tax credits to
the holder of the bond.
Recovery zone economic development
bond. This is an issue of taxable state or
local governmental bonds that meets the
requirements under section 1400U-2 that
may be used to finance certain qualified
economic development purposes as
defined under section 1400U-2(c), the
issuer of which receives a refundable
credit under section 6431.
Arbitrage rebate. The issuer of a build
America bond or recovery zone economic
development bond must rebate to the
United States arbitrage profits earned
from investing proceeds of the bond in
higher yielding nonpurpose investments.
See section 148(f).
Gross proceeds. Gross proceeds
means any proceeds and replacement
proceeds of an issue as defined under
Regulations section 1.148-1(b).
Sale proceeds. Sale proceeds are
determined under Regulations section
1.148-1(b) as any amount actually or
constructively received from the sale of
the issue, including amounts used to pay
underwriters' discount or compensation
and accrued interest, other than
pre-issuance accrued interest. Sale
proceeds also include, but are not limited
to, amounts derived from the sale of a
right that is associated with a bond, and
that is described in Regulations section
1.148-4(b)(4). Sale proceeds shall also
include the proceeds from the sale of
credit strips. Also, see Regulations section
1.148-4(h)(5) treating amounts received
upon the termination of certain hedges as
sale proceeds.
Issue. Generally, bonds are treated as
part of the same issue if they are issued by
the same issuer, on the same date, and in
a single transaction, or a series of related
transactions. Even if part of the same
issue, build America bonds (Direct Pay),
build America bonds (Tax Credit), and
recovery zone economic development
bonds must each be filed on a separate
Form 8038-B.
Issue price. The issue price of
obligations is generally determined under
Regulations section 1.148-1(f). Thus,
when issued for cash, the issue price is
the price at which a substantial amount of
the obligations are sold to the public. To
determine the issue price of an obligation
issued for property, see sections 1273 and
1274 and the related regulations.

Specific Instructions
Part I—Reporting Authority
Amended return. An issuer may file an
amended return to change or add to the

information reported on a previously filed
return for the same date of issue. If you
are filing to correct errors or change a
previously filed return, check the
“Amended Return” box in the heading of
the form.
The amended return must provide all
the information reported on the original
return, in addition to the new or corrected
information. Attach an explanation of the
reason for the amended return and write
across the top, “Amended Return
Explanation.” Failure to attach an
explanation may result in a delay in
processing this form.
Line 1. The issuer's name is the name of
the entity issuing the bonds, not the name
of the entity receiving the benefit of the
financing. For a lease or installment sale,
the issuer is the lessee or the purchaser.
Line 2. An issuer that does not have an
employer identification number (EIN)
should apply online by visiting the IRS
website at IRS.gov/EIN. The organization
may also apply for an EIN by faxing or
mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS. Customers
outside the United States or U.S.
possessions may also apply for an EIN by
calling 267-941-1099 (toll call).
Line 3. If the issuer wishes to authorize a
person other than an officer of the issuer
(including a legal representative or paid
preparer) to communicate with the IRS
and whom the IRS may contact with
respect to this return (including in writing
or by telephone), enter the name of that
person here. The person listed in line 3
must be an individual. Do not enter the
name and title of an officer of the issuer
here (use line 10 for that purpose).
Note. By authorizing a person other than
an authorized officer of the issuer to
communicate with the IRS and whom the
IRS may contact with respect to this
return, the issuer authorizes the IRS to
communicate directly with the individual
entered in line 3 and consents to disclose
the issuer's return information to that
individual, as necessary, in order to
process this return.
Line 4. This line is for IRS use only. Do
not make any entries in this box.
Lines 5 and 6. If you listed in line 3 a
person other than an officer of the issuer
(including a legal representative or paid
preparer) to communicate with the IRS
and whom the IRS may contact with
respect to this return, enter the number
and street (or P.O. box if mail is not
delivered to street address), city, town, or
post office, state, and ZIP code of that
person. Otherwise, enter the issuer's
number and street (or P.O. box if mail is
not delivered to street address), city, town,
or post office, state, and ZIP code.

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Line 7. The date of issue is generally the
date on which the issuer exchanges the
bonds for the underwriter's (or other
purchaser's) funds. For a lease or
installment sale, enter the date interest
starts to accrue in an MM/DD/YYYY
format.
Line 8. If there is no name of the issue,
please provide other identification of the
issue.
Line 9. Enter the Committee on Uniform
Securities Identification Procedures
(CUSIP) number of the latest maturity on
line 9. Attach a schedule with a complete
list of CUSIP numbers for each bond. If
some or all of the tax credits are stripped,
attach a schedule with the name of each
purchaser of the tax credit bonds or tax
credit strips, each purchaser's EIN, and
the CUSIP numbers associated with the
bonds and the stripped tax credits. If the
issue does not have a CUSIP number,
write, “None.” If the issue either has no
CUSIP number or is privately placed,
attach a schedule with each purchaser's
EIN, name, and address.
Line 10. Enter the name and title of the
officer of the issuer whom the IRS may call
for more information. If the issuer
designates a person in line 3 (such as a
legal representative or paid preparer) with
whom the IRS may communicate with
respect to this return, leave line 10 blank.
Line 11. Enter the telephone number of
the person whom the IRS may contact for
more information identified in line 3 or
line 10, as applicable.

Part II—Type of Bonds

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CAUTION

Elections referred to in Part II are
made on the original bond
documents, not on this form.

Line 1. You must identify the type of
bonds issued by checking the
corresponding box. If box 1b or 1c is
checked, complete lines 2 and 3.
Line 2. Enter the first interest payment
date. An interest payment date is the date
on which interest is payable by the
governmental issuer to the holders of the
bonds. (For variable rate issues, enter the
last interest payment date applicable to
the quarterly period for which the first
Form 8038-CP for the issue will relate.)
Enter the date in an MM/DD/YYYY format.
Line 3. Check the box indicating the
interest payment date frequency. In
addition, issuers of build America bonds
(Direct Pay) and recovery zone economic
development bonds must attach a debt
service schedule to the Form 8038-B
which contains the information described
below for the bond issue.
1. For fixed rate bonds, attach a
complete debt service schedule titled

“Fixed Rate Bond—Debt Service
Schedule” that provides a list of each
interest payment date, the total interest
payable on such date, the total principal
amount of bonds expected to be
outstanding on such date, the credit
payment expected to be requested from
the IRS on such date, and the earliest date
that the bonds can be called.
2. For variable rate bonds, attach a
debt service schedule titled “Variable Rate
Bond—Debt Service Schedule” that
provides a list of each interest payment
date, the total principal amount of bonds
expected to be outstanding on such date,
and a description of how interest on the
bonds is figured.
Note. If the bond issue reported on Form
8038-B constitutes both fixed rate bonds
and variable rate bonds, both the fixed
rate and variable rate bonds must be
reported on the same Form 8038-B;
however, separate debt service
schedules, as described above, must be
entered for each of the bonds. Credit
payments are not allowed for pre-issuance
accrued interest. Failure to provide the
applicable debt service schedules may
result in a delay in processing the return.

Part III—Purpose of Issue
Line 1. For build America bonds, identify
the purpose of issue and enter the portion
of the issue price allocable to each type of
project expenditure. The portion of the
issue price allocated to each type of
project expenditure should include a pro
rata allocation of proceeds representing
such items as costs of issuance or a
reasonably required reserve. For example,
if 60% of the principal amount of the bond
issue is for education purposes and 40%
of the principal amount of the bond issue
is for public safety purposes, the proceeds
used for items such as costs of issuance
or a reasonably required reserve should
be allocated 60% to education and 40% to
public safety. Line 1h is to be used solely
to identify the portion of the issue price
allocated to a purpose other than those
listed in lines 1a through 1g. Lines 1a
through 1h must equal the total issue price
in line 3.
Attach a schedule listing names and
EINs of organizations that are to use
proceeds of these obligations if different
from those of the issuer. Also indicate
whether each organization listed on the
statement is a government or private
entity. Failure to attach the schedule may
result in a delay in processing the return.
Line 2. For recovery zone economic
development bonds, identify the purpose
of issue and enter the portion of the issue
price allocable to each type of
expenditure. The portion of the issue price
allocated to each type of project

expenditure should include a pro rata
allocation of proceeds representing such
items as costs of issuance or a reasonably
required reserve. For example, if 60% of
the principal amount of the bond issue is
for capital expenditures purposes and
40% of the principal amount of the bond
issue is for job training purposes, the
proceeds used for items such as costs of
issuance or a reasonably required reserve
should be allocated 60% to capital
expenditures and 40% to job training.
Line 2d is to be used solely to identify the
portion of the issue price allocated to a
purpose other than those listed in lines 2a
through 2c. Lines 2a through 2d must
equal the total issue price in line 3.
Attach a schedule listing names and
EINs of organizations that are to use
proceeds of these obligations if different
from those of the issuer. Also indicate
whether each organization listed on the
schedule is a government or private entity.
Failure to attach the schedule may result
in a delay in processing the return.
Line 3. See Issue price under Definitions,
earlier. For build America bonds, the
amounts under lines 1a through 1h, or for
recovery zone economic development
bonds, the amounts under lines 2a
through 2d must total the issue price of the
entire issue entered in line 3.
Note. Build America bonds (Tax Credit),
build America bonds (Direct Pay), and
recovery zone economic development
bonds must each be filed on a separate
Form 8038-B regardless of whether or not
they constitute a single issue.
Line 4. If obligations are Tax Anticipation
Notes (TANs) or Revenue Anticipation
Notes (RANs), check box 4a. If obligations
are Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs),
check box 4b. Do not check both boxes.
Line 5. Check this box if property other
than cash is exchanged for the obligation,
for example, acquiring a police car, a fire
truck, or telephone equipment through a
series of monthly payments. (This type of
obligation is sometimes referred to as a
“municipal lease.”) Also check this box if
real property is directly acquired in
exchange for an obligation to make
periodic payments of interest and
principal. Do not check this box if the
proceeds of the obligation are received in
the form of cash, even if the term “lease” is
used in the title of the issue.

Part IV—Description of
Obligations
Line 1. The stated redemption price at
maturity of the entire issue is the sum of
the stated redemption prices at maturity of
each bond issued as part of the issue. For
a lease or installment sale, write “N/A.”

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Line 2. Enter the last date on which any
of the bonds will mature. Enter the date in
an MM/DD/YYYY format.
Line 3. The weighted average maturity is
the sum of the products of the issue price
of each maturity and the number of years
to maturity (determined separately for
each maturity and by taking into account
mandatory redemptions), divided by the
issue price of the entire issue (from Part III,
line 3). For a lease or installment sale,
enter the total number of years the lease
or installment sale will be outstanding.
Carry the year out to two decimal places,
and do not round (for example, 10.72).
Line 4. The yield is generally the discount
rate that when used to figure the present
value of all payments of principal and
interest to be paid on the obligation
produces an amount equal to the issue
price, including accrued interest. See
Regulations section 1.148-4 for specific
rules to figure the yield on an issue. If the
issue is a variable rate issue, leave blank.
For other than variable rate issues, carry
the yield out to four decimal places, and
do not round (for example, 5.3125%). If
reporting build America bonds (Direct Pay)
or recovery zone economic development
bonds, the yield is reduced by the amount
of credit payments received under section
6431. If reporting build America bonds
(Tax Credit) and the issue is a lease or
installment sale, enter the effective rate of
interest being paid.

Part V—Use of Proceeds of
Issue

For a lease or installment sale, write “N/A”
in the space to the right of the title for Part
V.

Line 1. See Sale proceeds under
Definitions, earlier.
Line 2. Estimate reasonably expected
investment proceeds on the sales
proceeds in line 1.
Line 3. Enter the amount of pre-issuance
interest accrued from the date the bonds
are dated to the date of issue.
Line 4. Enter the amount of the proceeds
(including accrued interest) that will be
used to pay bond issuance costs,
including underwriter's fees, fees for
trustees, and bond counsel.
Note. Costs of issuance are limited to not
more than 2% of sale proceeds for build
America bonds (Direct Pay) and recovery
zone economic development bonds.
Line 5. Enter the amount of the proceeds
that will be used to pay fees for credit
enhancement that are taken into account
in determining the yield on the issue for
purposes of section 148(h), for example,
bond insurance premiums and certain
fees for letters of credit.

Line 6. Enter the amount of the proceeds
that will be allocated to a reasonably
required reserve fund. See funding
limitations for such a reserve under
Regulations section 1.148-2(f).
Line 9. Enter the amount of the proceeds
that will be used to pay principal, interest,
or call premium on any other issue of
bonds within 90 days of the date of issue.
Note. This line applies only to build
America bonds (Tax Credit).
Line 10. Enter the amount of the
proceeds that will be used to pay principal,
interest, or call premium on any other
issue of bonds after 90 days of the date of
issue, including proceeds that will be used
to fund an escrow account for this
purpose.
Note. This line applies only to build
America bonds (Tax Credit).

Part VI—Description of
Refunded Bonds

Complete this part only if the bonds are to
be used to refund a prior issue of
governmental bonds.

Note. According to Notice 2009-26 and
Notice 2009-50, build America bonds
(Direct Pay) generally may not be issued
to refinance capital expenditures in
“refunding issues,” as defined in
Regulations section 1.150-1. However,
refinancing of certain short-term
indebtedness with build America bonds
(Direct Pay) and recovery zone economic
development bonds is not treated as a
refunding.
Lines 1 and 2. The remaining weighted
average maturity is determined without
regard to the refunding. The weighted
average maturity is determined in the
same manner as for Part IV, line 3.
Line 3. Enter the last date on which any
of the bonds being refunded will be called.
Enter the date in an MM/DD/YYYY format.
Line 4. If more than a single issue of
bonds will be refunded, enter the date of
issue of each of the issues to be refunded
on a schedule. Enter the date in an
MM/DD/YYYY format. If the schedule is
not attached, it may result in a delay in
processing the return.

Part VII—Miscellaneous
Line 1. Enter the amount of volume cap
allocated to the issue of recovery zone
economic development bonds. Attach a
copy of the certification of the volume cap
allocation by the state, county, or large
municipality. For build America bonds,
enter the amount of state volume cap
allocated to the issue under section 141(b)
(5), if applicable. For recovery zone
economic development bonds, attach a

separate statement indicating the amount
of state volume cap allocated to the issue
under section 141(b)(5), if applicable. Also
attach a copy of the certification of the
recovery zone designation by the state,
county, or large municipality. Failure to
attach the required certifications will delay
the processing of this return.
Line 2. See Gross proceeds under
Definitions, earlier. If any portion of the
gross proceeds of the issue is or will be
invested in a guaranteed investment
contract (GIC), as defined in Regulations
section 1.148-1(b), enter the amount of
the gross proceeds invested, as well as
the final maturity date of the GIC, and the
name of the provider of such contract.
Enter the final maturity date in an MM/DD/
YYYY format on line 2b. Attach additional
sheets, if necessary.
Note. A GIC includes any nonpurpose
investment that has specifically negotiated
withdrawal or reinvestment provisions and
a specifically negotiated interest rate, and
also includes any agreement to supply
investments on two or more dates (for
example, a forward supply contract).
Line 3. Enter the amount of proceeds of
this issue used to fund a loan to another
governmental unit.
Line 4. If this issue is a loan of proceeds
from another governmental issue, check
box 4a and enter the date of issue in an
MM/DD/YYYY format on line 4b. Enter the
EIN on line 4c, and the name of the issuer
of the master pool obligation on line 4d.
Line 5. Check this box if the issuer has
identified a hedge on its books and
records in accordance with Regulations
sections 1.148-4(h)(2)(viii) and 1.148-4(h)
(5) that require an issuer of bonds to
identify a hedge for it to be included in
bond yield calculations for purposes of
section 148. If the box on line 5a is
checked, enter the name of the hedge
provider on line 5b, the type of the hedge
on line 5c, and the term of the hedge to
the nearest tenth of a year (for example,
2.4 years) on line 5d. Attach additional
sheets, if necessary.
Line 6. In determining if the issuer has
super-integrated a hedge, apply the rules
of Regulations section 1.148-4(h)(4). If the
hedge is super-integrated, check the box.
Line 7. Check this box if the issue is a
construction issue as defined in
Regulations section 1.148-7(f) and an
irrevocable election to pay a penalty in lieu
of arbitrage rebate has been made on or
before the date the bonds were issued.
The penalty is payable with a Form 8038-T
for each 6-month period after the date the
bonds are issued. Do not make any
payment of penalty in lieu of arbitrage
rebate with Form 8038-B. See Rev. Proc.
-4-

92-22, 1992-1 C.B. 736, for rules
regarding the “election document.”
Line 8. An issue is an issue of private
activity bonds if the issuer takes a
deliberate action. Regulations section
1.141-2(d)(3) defines a deliberate action
as any action taken by the issuer that is
within its control, regardless of whether
such act was intended to violate the
private business use test or the private
loan financing test. Regulations section
1.141-12 sets forth certain remedial
actions that prevent a deliberate action
with respect to property financed by an
issue from causing that issue to meet the
private business use test or the private
loan financing test. Check the box if the
issuer has established written procedures
to ensure timely remedial action with
respect to all nonqualified bonds in
accordance with Regulations section
1.141-12 or other additional remedial
actions authorized by the Commissioner
under Regulations section 1.141-12(h).
Line 9. Check the box if the issuer has
established written procedures to ensure
that the bonds comply with the arbitrage
yield restriction and rebate requirements
of section 148.

Signature and Consent
An authorized representative of the issuer
must sign Form 8038-B and any
applicable certification. Also print the
name and title of the person signing Form
8038-B. The authorized representative of
the issuer signing this form must have the
authority to consent to the disclosure of
the issuer's return information, as
necessary to process this return, to the
person(s) that have been designated in
Form 8038-B.
Note. If the governmental issuer in Part I,
line 3, authorizes the IRS to communicate
(including in writing and by telephone) with
a person other than an officer of the
issuer, by signing this form, the issuer's
authorized representative consents to the
disclosure of the issuer's return
information, as necessary to process this
return, to such person.

Paid Preparer
If an authorized representative of the
issuer filled in this return, the paid
preparer's space should remain blank.
Anyone who prepares the return but does
not charge the organization should not
sign the return. Certain others who
prepare the return should not sign. For
example, a regular, full-time employee of
the issuer, such as a clerk, secretary, etc.,
should not sign.
Generally, anyone who is paid to
prepare a return must sign it and fill in the

other blanks in the Paid Preparer Use Only
area of the return. The paid preparer must:
Sign the return in the space provided
for the preparer's signature;
Enter the preparer information,
including Preparer Tax Identification
Number; and
Give a copy of the return to the issuer.

Part VIII—Consent to
Disclosure of Certain
Information From This Return
Line 1. The IRS is considering publishing
a list of tax credit bonds in order to assist
in applicable reporting requirements. If the
issuer of a build America bond (Tax
Credit) consents to the IRS's publication,
through a website or other publication, of
its name and address, EIN, name and
description of the bond issue, date of
issuance, CUSIP number, issue price,
final maturity date, and stated redemption
price at maturity, to assist the IRS in the
proper reporting of interest, tax credits, or
other benefits under section 6049, and the

regulations thereunder, check the box
next to “Yes” on line 1 of Part VIII.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We
ask for the information on this form to carry
out the Internal Revenue laws of the
United States. You are required to give us
the information. We need it to ensure that
you are complying with these laws.
You are not required to provide the
information requested on a form that is
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
unless the form displays a valid OMB
control number. Books or records relating
to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents may
become material in the administration of
any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and return information are
confidential, as required by section 6103.
The time needed to complete and file
this form will vary depending on individual
circumstances. The estimated average
time is:

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Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . .
Learning about the law or the
form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing, copying,
assembling, and sending the
form to the IRS . . . . . . . . .

16 hr., 1 min.
1 hr., 29 min.
1 hr., 49 min.

If you have comments concerning the
accuracy of these time estimates or
suggestions for making this form simpler,
we would be happy to hear from you. You
can send us comments through IRS.gov/
FormComments.
Or you can write to:
Internal Revenue Service
Tax Forms and Publications
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526
Washington, DC 20224
Do not send the form to this address.
Instead, see Where To File, earlier.