Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-08
INCOME TAX IS
HONESTY TEST
FOR WEALTHY.
With Governments Machinery
Incomplete, Revenue CoIIec-
tors Already Swamped.

NEW YORK, Feb. THE honesty
of citizens amenable to the provi-
sions OF the new income tax law is
question which Collector of Internal
Revenue Charles Anderson has mark
ed down for future investigation"
That there have been many evasions
in filling out blanks and filing the re-
turns he already has knowledge.
As to the fling of dishonest returns
grossly Understanding personal net
incomes, nothing has yet been un-
earthed and neither can it be dis
closed until the machinery of the law
IS put into Uniform motion and sys-
tematc investigation Of suspected
cases are undertaken. In time a staff
of investigators for each internal
revenue district to ascertain the
sources and size of all personal in
comes will be established.
At present this work might be un-
dertaken by the already complete
forces of the Internal Revenue De-
partment. whose duty it Is to probe
into liquor and tobacco tax matters
affecting the Government, but it is
explained that this force could
scarcely take UP the special work of
income tax investigation before the
legal machinery itself is going at top
speed
All 10 Confusion.
At present all is confusion in the
income tax branch of the Collectors
extensive department. The staff of
clerks is wholly inadequate, being
compelled to work late into the nigh,
IN order to try and keep abreast OF
the tide of applicants for blanks.
Thousands of letters from we'll
known lawyers who find themselves
unable to fully comprehend the COM
pick phraseology of the written law.
reach the Collector every day He
has applied to Washington for the
privilege of appointing additional men
and women clerks, but Washington
has not vet given him authorization.
There is no question as to the
honesty of the people who have come
with rush to this office and who
have written letters seeking the
light said the Collector yesterday,
but ! feel assured that there are
many who have not and will not come
forward with the statement of their
income for the present There are
many who really do not realize that
they are amenable and who appear to
regard the whole matter as something
to be smiled at.
Time Is Needed.
IT false statements have been
filed with us the fact can only be
brought to light after we have got
over this first rush. The whole mat
ter will simplify itself in time and in
dividual investigation will reveal any
frauds 1t will prove a very serious
matter for any person coming under
the provisions of the new law to try
and avoid his or her obliRa tons, and
a severe penalty attends"
The most interesting portion of the
income tax law Is the part affecting
individuals whose net income exceeds
$500 for the first ten months Of the
new law, This individual" class ap-
plies to both married and single and
the filing is done by the employer,
who, under one of the Al varieties
of forms, fills out the blank and re-
turns 1t to the Collector Of Internal
Revenue in the district in which the
business is esta blished. The word
employer applies to partnerships.
companies. corporations Joint stock
companies and associations or insur-
ance companies. The employer gives
the names and addresses Of all per-
sons receiving rents. salaries. wages,
royalties, taxable annuities and en-
oluments In excess Of $4,000.