Summary: Estimates of the federal paperwork burden have risen dramatically since the Paperwork Reduction Act was first enacted in 1980, although some of the increase is because of changes in measurement techniques. Agencies' estimates have continued to increase since 1995 despite congressional expectations to the contrary. The increase in the governmentwide paperwork estimate appears largely attributable to continued increases in the Internal Revenue Services' (IRS) estimates. However, IRS said that these increases are due to increased economic activity and new statutory requirements--factors beyond its control. Also, GAO believes that the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Regulatory Affairs has not fully satisfied all of the responsibilities assigned to it by the act. Data provided by OMB to Congress indicates a troubling disregard by agencies for the requirement that they obtain OMB's approval before collecting information from the public. GAO estimates that the agencies have imposed at least $3 billion in unauthorized burden in recent years.
