The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-08-31
II per cent. of third $1,000. ...... 1900
II per cent. of fourth $1,000. -. 1850
2 per cent. of $500 0....,....... 1000
Total. .......,.,............S $50

& per cent. OF 1CUU U....,......... lU.o'
Total. l........t...... Soo.oI
The income taxpayer is allowed tc
deduct from his income all general
taxes paid on the property which pro-
duces the income and to apply toward
payment of his income tax the amount
OF any tax receipts for the year on
personal property.
The provisions for taxing corpora
tions are curious and novel. The rate
of tax is graduated according to the
relation which the assessed value of
the property producing the income
bears to the profits of the business.
Thus if the taxable income equals |
per cent. or less of the assessed value
of the property used and employed in
the acquisition of such income the rate
Of tax will be one-half of | per cent. of
such income.
If the taxable income is more than
one per cent, but less than two, the
rate is one per cent If more than
2 per cent, but not over 3 per cent,
the rate is IL per cent, and so on to II
per cent, where fixed rate of per
cent. is reached.
The whole administration of the law
is placed under the general supervision
of the state tax commission. The state
is to be divided into assessment dis
tricts, but in such manner as not to
divide any county An assessor of in
comes is to be appointed for each dis
trict by the tax commission and such
assessor may be authorized to appoint
deputies. The tax will be assessed rs
of the first day of January for the pre-
ceeding year and the tax on incomes
received in 1911 will be assessed in the
winter and spring OF 1912 and be pay
able at the same time as other taxes
in the fall of 1912. There is to be n
board of review appointed by the tax
commission which will hear appeals of
individuals from income assessments.
Corporations may appeal to the state
tax commission. Ali persons and cor
porations may be required to make full
returns or declarations OF their incomes.
Any person who fails or refuses to
make such return or render false re-
turn may be fined not to exceed $500 or
be imprisoned not to exceed one year
or both. In the case of corporations a
fine of 800 to 5000 is provided. All
officials connected with the administra-
tion of the law are forbidden under
heavy penalties to diyulge the contents
of the returns.
On and after the first Monday in
January, 1912, the Office of county SUI
pervisor o. assessments will be abolish
ed.
The assessor of incomes shall on and
after the first Monday of January, 1912,
in addition to the duties and powers
imposed and conferred upon him, per-
form all the duties and possess all the
powers heretofore imposed and con-
ferred by law upon the county super
visor of assessment. The assessor of
incomes shall be under the direction
and control of the state tax commits
sion, and shall make such reports to
the commission, to the county board of
review and the county board of super
visors, and perform such other duties
as the commission shall direct.
1t should be understood that the ex-
emption of personal property tax does
not take effect until 1912, but the law
provides that any person who has paid
a tax upon personal property in any
year may present the receipt and the
same will be accepted to its full amount
by the tax collector in payment of in
come tax.
The revenue derived from the income
tax is TO be apportioned as follows: Ten
per cent. to the state, 20 per cent. to
the county and 10 perc cent. to the town,
city or village in which the tax was
assessed, levied and collected. 1t is
probable that, for the first year at
least, the expense to the state of assess
ing and collecting the tax will fully
equal the 10 per cent. which it re-
ceives. The amount which the tax
commission may expeud in administer
ing the law is limited to 5 cents for
each thousand of the valuation of all
property as fixed by the tax commits
sion for the year.
AS to the constitutionality of the act
the supreme court will be called upon
to decide the numerous questions which
have been raised. There are two
points however which should be re-
membered.
In the first place certain features of
the bill may be found to be unconstitu-
tional without necessarily invalidating
the whole bill; and in the second place
Section of Article VIII of the consti-
tuition of the state Of Wisconsin was
formerly amended by vote Of the people
at the November elections Of 1908, by
adding to the requirement that the
rule of taxation shall be uniform the
following words: Takes may also be
imposed on incomes, privileges and oc-
cupations, which taxes may b gradu.
ated and progressive and reasonable
exemptions may be provided. "