The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-12
Treasury Officials Make An
other Attempt to Clear Up
The Mystery Surrounding the
Income Tax Law.
tissue REGULATIONS NO. 80
Ninety Page Booklet to Tell the
Taxpayers
What They Want to Know
About New Measure.

Washington, Feb. 12.-After weeks OF
study of the complexities OF the IN
come tax law, treasury officials TO-DAY
issued a 80 page booklet. christened II
..Regulations No. 33," and sent 1t ioF.n
to collectors Of internal revenue IN
the expectation that it will clear up
manv of the misunderstano1ngs con-
cerning the law which nave arse"
throughout the country.
IT takes % pages Of the book to set
forth the law itself but 60 pages are
used in telling how the net income
to be taxed is ascertained by the tax
payer. when and where tax must oe
paid, what penalties will be imposed
for nonpayment, what exemptions anu
deductions will be allowed Many
pages are devoted to an explanation OF
that mart of the law imposing l per
cent tax on the income of all corpora
tions, which replaces the old corpora
ton tax.
Although officials are confident that
this booklet will prove a guide 10 TAX
payers which will settle many appar-
emily difficult problems. there Will De
other regulations in the future when
new points are raised The book does
not contain a new set of regulations
but Is a compilation in compact form
Of those already issued. with expiana-
tions of points never before discussed
Under the law. partnerships are not
subject to the tax, but the regulations
provide that annual profits from part
nership paid to members shall be in
cluded in their returns and where such
profits are undistributed and unpaid
they must be ascertained and included
in the individuals return for taxation
just the same.
One Point Cleared Up.
1t is made clear for the first time
that persons who have a net income OF
less than $2O,0 600 all derived from in
vestments and upon which the tax has
been withheld at the source, shall not
he required to make any return.
Executors and administrators OF eS-
tates of persons are required to pay
the tax on the net income for the part
Of the year in which the deceased wai
alive.
Where persons taxable refuse tt
make the proper list or return or make
false return the regulations provide
that the proper collector OF tnterna
revenue, shall after due notice, make
the return for such person and the ta1
shall be assessed on this return. witt
a so or 100 per cent. penalty added
Returns shall be sent by collectors tt
| the commissioner of internal revenue
! in Washington by registered mail
Taxes unpaid after June 80 shall brinl
a penalty Of per cent. after ten days
notice and demand by the proper col
lector, and interest at the rate OF
per cent. a month from that date due
Returns shall be made to collectors
before March 1, every year.
Corporation Feature.
In dealing with the corporation
feature. it is explained that all return
shall be public records subject to in
spection, on order of the president Q
the United States. under rules pre-
scribed by the secretary of the treas
ury. Copies of returns cannot be sen
to any person except the corporation
or their attorneys. but on request Of
governor officers of a state which i'm
poses a general income tax, may hav
access to returns by corporations. doin
business in that state. United State
district attorneys may. under certai
restrictions, have access to the returns
Disclosures by any collector or othe
employee of the United States. of an
information whatever. set forth In an
return of annual net income, Is mad
!, a misdemeanor. punishable by a fine 6
81 900 and one years imprisonment. an
if the person found guilty is a Unite
States employee he will be dismisse
and thereafter be incapable of eve
, hOldin-- nfPica under the government