The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-05

THE SPECIAL INCOME TAX,

THE SPECIAL INCOME TAX.
Secretary Fessenden has just issued the fol-
lowing regulations for the assessment and col
lection of the Special Income Tax upon the in
come of 1868:
eG.r g.. TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON July 2, 1864. {
The joint resolution imposing a special in.
come duty, approved July 4, 1854 provides
that there shall be levied on the 1st of October,
1864, upon the e iins, profits or income for the
year 1863 of all persons residing in the United
States or of citizens of the United States resi-
ding abroad. duty of five per cent. on all
sums exceeding 5000. 1t is also provided that
in estimating income for this purpose, 70 de-
ductions shall be made for dividends or inter
or company, nor shall any deduction be made
for any salary or pay received.
In order to facilitate the assessment of this
tax assessors are directed to scrutinize care
fully the returns of income heretofore made to
them for the year 1868, by persons residing
within the United States, and to select all such
as have been made in detail, in the manner pro-
vided upon Form No. "a, issued by the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue, and with the
accuracy and correctness of which they are
thoroughly satisfied. When deductions have
been made from any such return on account of
dividends or interest received from any corpo-
ration, or on account of any salary or pay as
an officer of the United States, the amounts
thus deducted will be added to the amount
heretofore assessed. and any income derived
from interest upon United States securities will
be included in the same total. The income
thus determined may be entered in the list as
the amount upon which the special duty of five
per cent. is to be assessed.
Assessors will direct their assistants to pro-
cure returns from all persons residing in their
several divisions who have heretofore made no
return in detail, or with whose returns as here
tofore made they have any reasons to be dissat-
isfed, and from the agents of all citizens OF
the United States residing abroad and belong
ing In their several divisions. Notice should
be left with all such persons at least ten days
before the 1st day of October, requiring them
to make return, under oath or affirmation, on
| or before said 1st day of October, in the man
ner provided by the act of June 80, 1864. By
the terms of that act the return must state the
sources from which the income is derived,
whether from any kind of property, or the
purchase and sale of property, rents, interest,
dividends, salaries, or from any profession,
trade. employment or vocation or otherwise.
The distinction heretofore made between the
incomes of residents and of nonresident citi-
zens is set aside and the latter are to be treat
ed in all respects in the same manner as the
former.
Assistant Assessors will transmit the returns
to the Assessors of their respective districts as
| rapidly as they are received, and in all cases
within ten days after the LIST of October. If
| any person shall have neglected to give in a
return in the form required, or if any person
shall have given in q return which, in the
opinion oftRe Assessor, is false or fraudulent
or contains any understatement or undervalu-
| alton, it will be the duty of the Assessor to
summon such person or his agent. to appear
and produce all books of accounts containing
entries relating to the trade or business of snch
| persons, and to summon any other persons as
manner prescribed in section IA of the act of
June 80, 1864.
If upon such examination 1t shall appear
| that any person has made false or fraudulent
return, the Assessor will estimate the income
OF such person according to the best informa-
| ton which he can obtain and assess the duty
thereon and enter the same in the list, adding
| 100 per centum to such duty. The Assessor
will, in like manner, estimate the income of all
persons who shall have neglected to make re-
| turn on or before the first day of October, and
assess the duty thereon, and except in cases of
sickness or absence, he will add 80 per centum
to such duty. No return can be accepted
| which is not verified by oath or affirmation,
and if any such return is transmitted to the As
SCISSOR, he will proceed in the same manner as
if no return had been received.
Immediately thereafter the assessor will
make up an alphabetical list of all persons
who have been assessed for the special income
duty in each division of his district, and will
| then advertise in some newspaper published in
each county of his district, if such there be-if
not, in some newspaper nearest thereto in the
same collection district-the time and place,
within said county, when said list may be ex-
amined and the list shall remain open for ten
days for the inspection of all persons who may
| apply for the same.
IL, J.
| after the examination of witnesses, as provided
in section IA of the act of June 30, 1864, can be
| given by the assessor: but any persons ag-
| grieved will have right of appeal to the Com
| missioner of Internal Revenue. In all other
cases the assessor may revise any assessment,
| including those made upon the basis of returns
received at any time before the first day of
| November, 1864.
1t is explicitly provided by the act of June
| 80 1864, that copies of all lists returned to
the collector shall remain in the Office of the
Assessor, and shall be open to the inspection
of all persons who may apply to inspect the
same. 1t is of especial importance that As
SCISSORS give full effect to this provision with
reference to the lists heretofore made up, and
containing the assessments upon the income
for the year 1868, in order that the amplest
| opportunity may be given for the detection
OF any fraudulent returns that may have been
made, and any omissions that may have oc-
| curreu; ana Tor THIS purpose, Assessors SnOulQ
seek the cooperation OF all tax-paying citi-
| zens.
Assistant Assessor will be particularly care
full to obtain returns from persons employed
in the service Of the United States whose
names may not appear on the annual assess
ment list, as the special income duty upon
their salaries imposed by the joint resolution
| of July 1, is not to be withheld by paymasters,
but must be assessed in the same manner as
| income from other sources.
Immediately after the LIST of November the
| lists made in accordance with these regula-
tions will be returned to the several collectors
| in the manner provided by law, and the subse-
ouent proceedings for the collection of the
duty will be in all respects similar to those for
the collection of taxes assessed in the annual
list .r .,,3 w. P. FESSENDEN,
I Secretary of the Treasury.