The herald., 1898-07-15
Rulings on the Stamp Tax


Washington dispatch to the New York
Post gives the following summary OF runnes
by the commissioner Of Internal revenue
upon the Interpretation of the war revenue
bill:
A dealer in cigars Is liable to special tax
when sales for preceding fiscal year eAceeu-
ed 2,2o0O0O cigars. Any person commenc'ns
business as dealer IN tobacco or cigars on
July l. 1898. or subsequently during the year.
is required to pay the special tax whenever
sales exceed SO, 900 pounds. The special TAX
will be computed from the first day Oh the
month In which he commenced TO engage
In the business.
Where q certificate OF deposit is issued
providing for payment OF interest, tnous !,
with the condition "if left six months"
stamp tax must be paid thereon as follows:
Two cents for any sum not exceeding $ioo
and for each additional 500 or fractional
parts thereof 2 cents additional.
Special taxes are required to be paid by
small theatrical companies, as well as
circus and other exhibitions. If company
does not intend giving any performance be-
fore the LIST of September the tax may be
computed from that date until the first day
of July following a the rate of 500 per year
Malt extract Is liable to stamp tax under
schedule B the same as other medicines.
The fact that the substance of the article
has already paid tax as beer does not ope-
rate to exempt 1t from tax In Its new and
medicinal form.
Articles taxable under schedule B In the
hands of dealers July l. 1898, must when
sold be stamped according to the retail
price, and not by the reduced or cut price.
Wharf receipts given to the shipper In ex-
change fon which bill of lading bearing
stamp Is issued does not require stamp.
Stamps issued under revenue laws now
repealed cannot be used In lieu OF stamps
f,vyfb a loyIyr
A special stamp tax is required for each
bowling alley. pool table or billiard table
One stamp will not be made to answer for
several tables.
Ginger ale is not liable to tax unless spe-
cially advertised as medicine.
Hop ale is liable to tax as fermented
liquor, and the vendors thereof to special
tax as malt liquor dealers.
Stamps must be affixed to premium notes
issued by insurance companies, as well as
the policies.
Subscriptions to the 8 per cent loan are
not taxable.
Powers of attorney for the collection of
pensions. bounty, etc, are not liable to tax.
but other powers OF attorney require a
26-cent stamp to be attached.
Artificial mineral waters that have been
advertised as possessing medicinal qualities
are taxable as medicine.
Manufacturers of tobacco or cigars who
DO not sell leaf tobacco, but who purcha Se
and temporarily store surplus stock. in
tended for use at their several factories,
will not be required to pay special tax as
dealers in leaf tobacco, but such tax will
be required should they engage in the bust
ness of selling leaf tobacco.
Concentrated extract of witch hazel, COM
pound liquorice powder. and seidlitz pow
ders are taxable as proprietary medicinal
articles.
The commissioner has decision in prep
aration, In which 1t will be held that the
stamp representing the tax on express mat
ter must be affixed to the bill of lading by
the express companies and not by the indi-
vidual shippers.
Commissioner Scott authorizes the state
ment that no revenue stamps will be neces-
sary on the reports of earnings and divi-
dends and IMPORTS Of conditions made to the
comptroller of the currency by national
banks, as such reports are non-taxabe