The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3520) superseded the older Federal Reports Act (1942) and reestablished the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the central coordinator of Federal information policy. The Paperwork Reduction Act was reenacted and updated in 1995. The Act requires all agencies to obtain the approval of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in OMB before requesting the same type of information from ten or more businesses and individuals. OIRA also decides whether or not the information requested is duplicative or puts an excessive burden on the public.

OIRA's regulations provide for a somewhat different process for reviewing and clearing free-standing information collection requests (e.g., tax forms) and information requests that are embedded in proposed regulations.