OMB: Public Spending Less Time on Federal Forms
OMB announced the public is spending less time on government paperwork – the majority of which is done filling out IRS forms. In fiscal 2003, the agency estimated the public spent 8.1 billion hours on government paperwork, a decrease of 1.5 percent from 2002. The improvement does not, however, meet government goals.

Said Patricia Dalton, director of strategic issues at the General Accounting Office: "At 8.1 billion burden hours, the governmentwide paperwork estimate is 3.5 billion burden hours higher than the act's target estimate at the end of Sept. 30, 2001."

"Agencies can reduce paperwork burdens by eliminating questions, or exempting certain groups of citizens from filling out the forms. The use of electronic filing also can speed up the process."