Notice2026-01764

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form RD 410-8 “Applicant Reference Letter” (A Request for Credit References); OMB Control No.: 0575-0091

Primary source

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Published
January 29, 2026

Issuing agencies

Agriculture DepartmentRural Housing Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service (RHS), announces its' intention to request an revision of a currently approved information collection and invites comments on this information collection.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 3865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01764]



[[Page 3865]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-26-SFH-0034]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form RD 410-8 
``Applicant Reference Letter'' (A Request for Credit References); OMB 
Control No.: 0575-0091

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service (RHS), announces its' 
intention to request an revision of a currently approved information 
collection and invites comments on this information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 30, 2026 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and, in the ``Search Field'' box, 
labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, Notices, or Supporting 
Documents,'' enter the following docket number: (RHS-26-SFH-0034). To 
submit or view public comments, click the ``Documents'' tab, then 
select the following document title: (Applicant Reference Letter (A 
Request for Credit Reference) from the ``Search Results,'' and select 
the ``Comment'' button. Before inputting your comments, you may also 
review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). Insert your comments 
under the ``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if 
available). Input your email address and select ``Submit Comment.'' 
Information on using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's 
``FAQ'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Cusick, Division Director, 
Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-1414. 
Email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4804293d3a2d26660b3d3b212b23083d3b2c29662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d311c080f1813533e080e141e163d080e191c531a120b">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection 
that Rural Housing Service is submitting to OMB as extension to an 
existing collection with Agency adjustment.
    Title: Form RD 410-8 ``Applicant Reference Letter'' (A request for 
Credit Reference).
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0091.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2026.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .10 hour per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,200.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5,200.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 520 hours.
    Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), under Section 502 of 
Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, provides financial 
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace, or 
rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent, safe, and 
sanitary housing to eligible individuals in rural areas. To receive a 
loan or grant, applicants must provide the Agency with a standard 
housing application (used by government and private lenders), and 
provide documentation, including their credit history, to support the 
same.
    Form RD 410-8, ``Applicant Reference Letter'' is used by the Agency 
to obtain information about an applicant's credit history that does not 
appear on a credit report. The form can be used to document the 
applicant's ability to handle credit effectively in cases where an 
applicant has used nontraditional sources of credit which do not appear 
on a credit report. It also provides a mechanism for verifying 
repayment history for debts reported by the applicant on the loan 
application that do not appear on the credit report. This form asks 
only for specific, relevant information to determine the applicant's 
creditworthiness and to establish the applicant's history of prompt 
payments on debts. This information enables RHS to make better 
creditworthiness decisions.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility.
    (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
    (c) ways to enhance 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 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble 
Brown, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-6780. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2c9cbcfc0cec78cc0d0cdd5cce2d7d1c6c38cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f19a989c939d94df93839e869fb184829590df969e87">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

George Kelly,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01764 Filed 1-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on January 29, 2026.

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