The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-02-28
INTERNAL REVENUE.
NOW TO MAKE RETURNS.

NOW TO MAKE RETURNS.
Officers of the Internal Revenu,
Department find great difficulty il
getting the blanks which they distrib
ute, properly filled. The details in
the blanks do not always explain
themselves. Indeed, many of them
are liable to be not only misunder.
i. stood but misinterpreted. Perhaps
, explanations should have been at
tached to the blank returns. giving
explicit directions as to how they are
to be filled. This has not been done,
and as the time is drawing near for
these returns to be made, u pointing
out of some of the more common er-
rors in filling the Assessors blanks
may save many persons much vexa-
tion rs well as valuable time, while il
will facilitate the business of the
offices.
FARMERS RETURNS.
Profits from sales of live stock are
found by deducting purchase money
paid for animals from gross receipts
for same. Money paid for services
of minor children cannot be deduct
ed /; for adult children it can, as for
other laborers. Money paid for Ia
Dor, except such as is used or EN-
plQyed in domestic service, or IN the
production of articles consumed in
the family of the producer, may be
deducted. Cost of unproductive Ia
Dor cannot be deducted. A proper
Itionate amount of wages of domestics
employed a part of the time in pro
ductive labor, may be deducted.
Expenses on new lands or perma-
nent improvements ale not deducti-
BILE.
Expenses for fertilizers applied
during the year may be deducted,
except such as are produced on the
farm. The cost of seed purchased
for sowing or planting may be de-
Quoted.
Returns of produce consumed in
their immediate families are not to be
returned. The profits of timber,
sold standing, are estimated by ad
ding proceeds from timber to value
of land after removal, and deducting
fIom same estimated value of land
on January 1st, 1862, or on the day
of purchase, if purchased since that
date. Returns for all sales within
the year are taxable, but mere con-
tract, is not sale; delivery, actual or
constructive, is essential. This is
determined by deciding on whom the
loss would fall, should the property
be destroyed.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Deductions cannot be made for q
depreciation of stocks or like prop
erty, except where sales of some have
been made, and actual loss realized.
Costs of suits and other legal pro-
ccedIngs, arising from ordinary bus
mess, are to he deducted from gross
profits, the same as other expenses
of same.
Physicians may deduct so much of
the expense Of keeping a horse As is
fairly required by their business.
Expenses FER repairs OF imple-
ments, tools, &c. used in business.
are deductible for store bills, med
ical attendance, &c, they are not.
PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND MINORS.
Members of family having sepa-
rate incomes may return individually,
exempting pro rata the $1,000. The
parent returns for a minor child, eX-
cept in the case OF other duly ap-
pointed guardian or trustee, who,
then, must make return. A minor
without guardian returns for him
self.
Husband and wife, though living
separate, if not divorced, are re-
garded as members Of the same fam
ily in reference to the 81, 900 ex-
emption. Minor children and parents
living together, or apart. are not to
be counted as members of the same
family.
If tax payer has minor child in
the service of the Government, re-
ceiving a salary, such parent should
include in his income return so much
of the salary of his child as is not
subject TO salary tax.
RENTS, GIFTS, FEES.
! Rent for homestead, actually paid,
is to be deducted, but-if the property
is owned by the occupant, the rental
value is not deductible; also, where
the taxpayer rents furnished house,
the portion considered as rent OF fur
niture is not deductible. Any per-
son claiming q deduction on account
of expense for room rent, must salts
iy the Assessor that the room or
rooms occupied by him constitute
his home, and that he has no resi-
dence elsewhere; and this being
shown, he may be allowed to deduct
what he actually pays for rent O:
such rooms, but nothing can be al
lowed for rent of furniture or care OF
rooms. When rent is included and
deducted as an expense Of business,
it must not be again deducted as
rent, nor should a person hiring a
house and sub-letting portion OF it
be allowed to deduct more than the
excess of his payments over his re-
ceipts.
Marriage fees, gifts and donations,
&c, in the nature of compensation
for services rendered, with or without
such understanding, or by annual
custom, are taxable as incomes. Gifts
of money not in payment for services
rendered, or other valuable consider
alton, are not taxable. Amounts re-
ceived on life insurance policies and
damages recovered in actions OF tort,
are exempt from income tax.
LAWYERS, PHYSICIANS AND MANUFAC
TURERS.
Lawyers and physicians may de.
duct actual fees received or amounts
due the business during the year