Application for Refund of Educational Contributions (VA Form 22-5281)

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form 22-5281 Application for Refund of Educational Contributions	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
30-Day FRN 2900-0261.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-09-09	Available
60-Day (published) 2900-0261.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-08-31	Available
Comment 1 for 22-5281 received 08-05-2026.pdf	Public Comments	Uploaded 2026-08-27	Available
2900-0261_ SUPPORTING STATEMENT A_ 09-09-2026_Revised_.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-09-09	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
28505	Application for Refund of Educational Contributions	Form and Instruction	Modified	Application for Refund of Educational Contributions

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2900-0261	ICR Reference No: 202606-2900-009
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202305-2900-008
Agency/Subagency: VA	Agency Tracking No: VBA-EDU-KM
Title: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions (VA Form 22-5281)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 09/09/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2026
Responses	2,571	3,620
Time Burden (Hours)	429	603
Cost Burden (Dollars)	7,186	0

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Abstract: The information submitted on VA Form 22-5281 is necessary in order to process the payment of refunds of contributions made by program participants who wish to dis enroll.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 38 USC 3223 Name of Law: Refunds of contributions upon disenrollment
   PL: Pub.L. 94 - 502 1623 Name of Law: Refunds of contributions upon disenrollment
   PL: Pub.L. 104 - 275 3018C Name of Law: Enrollment of certain VEAP participants in Montgomery GI Bill
  

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:
	91 FR 40669	07/02/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 56943	09/04/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Refund of Educational Contributions	22-5281	Application for Refund of Educational Contributions

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list 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	2,571	3,620	0	-1,049	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	429	603	0	-174	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	7,186	0	0	7,186	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: In 2022, VA conducted a project which attempted to identify all Veterans with remaining chapter 32 contributions and provide them with the VA Form 22-5281 to receive a refund, as they’re no longer eligible to use chapter 32 benefits. The burden for the current renewal has decreased because no similar large scale effort to contact Veterans was conducted during 2023, 2024, or 2025.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $7,186

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

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.     Yes

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.     Yes

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: 09/09/2026

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