# Proposed Information Collection Activity; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Financial Report, ACF-196T
**AGENCY:**
Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
**ACTION:**
Request for public comments.
**SUMMARY:**
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Financial Report, Form ACF-196T (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0345, expiration 3/31/2026). ACF is not proposing updates to the form but is proposing significant updates to streamline and improve the instructions. While the substance of the instructions remains the same, they are easier to read, with review time reduced by an estimated 33 percent.
**DATES:**
*Comments due* March 31, 2026.
**ADDRESSES:**
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by emailing *[email protected].* Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
*Description:* Grantees of the TANF program are required by statute to report financial data on a quarterly basis. Form ACF-196T is used by tribal agencies administering the TANF program to report these quarterly expenditure data and to request quarterly grant funds. Failure to collect the data would seriously compromise the Office of Family Assistance and ACF's ability to monitor TANF expenditures and compliance with statutory requirements. These data are also needed to estimate outlays and to prepare reports and budget submissions for Congress. The instructions have been edited for clarification and general improvements for respondents.
*Respondents:* Tribal agencies receiving a direct grant from OFA to administer a TANF program.
**Annual Burden Estimates**
Based on the edits to the instructions, the estimated time per response has been reduced 33 percent, from 1.5 hours to 1 hour. The number of agencies has been reduced to reflect current grant recipients. Overall, annual burden estimates have decreased from 306 hours to 200 hours.
| Instrument | Total | Annual | Average | Annual |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TANF Financial Report, Form ACF-196T | 50 | 4 | 1.0 | 200 |
*Comments:* The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.
*Authority:* Social Security Act, Section 409; 45 CFR 286,245-286.285.
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.