Tensas gazette., 1917-12-28
Treasury Department,

Office of the Collector,
District of Louisiana:
Collector of Internal Revenue ]. Y.
Fauntleroy states that Hon. Daniel G.
Roper, Commissioner of Ieternal Rev.
enue, has determined upon the follow
ing plan of securing returns under the
Income Tax Law.
Farly in January a corps of Inspec-
tors will be stationed i'm the largest
ciies of the State, whose duties it will
be to post the public concerning the
new laws. Every citizen subject 10
make returns will be expected to get
in touch with these officials, and secure
from them the necessary blank forms.
~ rossible, it is planned to have In
come Tax Deputy Collectors in every
Parish in the State, whose itinerary
viii be duly published. Postmasters.
hanks and newspapers will he definite
" informed in this regard, and will he
source OF information to the public
concerning the new law, distribute and
receive returns, and assist as much as
nossible in the preparation thereof
Returns must be made between jan
nary and March 1, 1918.
The Government recognizes that
many persons will experience a good
deal of difficulty in filling out the in
| 70 4 o1c la 70 O vsc
residing awav from cities in which
Collectors Offices are located have
difficulty 10 get proper instruction con-
cerning the law. When 1t Ia remem-
hered that every married couple, whose
Joint net income amounts to S2,0O0.O0.
and everv single person having net
income of 81. 10000, for the year 1917
is subject TO Income Tax, and muat
make return thereof, 1t will he seen
that there will he hundreds OF persons
in every parish seeking light on the
law and assistance in the execution ~
. their returns.
These are the reasons that promp'
the Commissioner TO undertake the
campaign above outlined. At this time
IT is not practicable go into fnrthe'
detail except to state that due pnh-
licity will be given prior to'the 'arriva
of the Inspector at the place in which
he will establish his office and the mum
ber of days he will remain in given
community.
As vet the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue has been unable to supply me
with the blank forms on which to make
the returns, but it is expected that nv
the first Of January, full simply viii
be received at this offlce, which In turn
will be sent to the corps OF Inspectors
who will distribute the returns in per-
son to the taxpayer'on request.
II may be stated as matter OF gen.
eral information that net income ia the
remainder after subtrscting expenses
from gross income. Personal, family
or living expense is not expense within
the meaning of the law, an exempt"
of $1,000 for q single person an so
for q married person (plns s2.non fo'
each dependent child eRder the age o.
eighteen) being the only amount AL
lowed therefor. All classes OF peraors
having the above stated amount OF in
come are affected, viz: farmers, mer'
chants, tradesmen, professional men
salaried men, wage earners, etc. The
law imposes the obligation on the tax
payer to secure the necessary blank
and see that it is duly filed with this
office, either by being banded directly
c TO the Inspector or sent by mail. L.
} other words, it ia mp to the Taxpayer
! TO come forward voluntarily, and fall
I ure to do 80 will result In additions
} tax, and besides be looked upon "a q
! serious violation of the law, which
! may warrant prosecution in the United
} States Courts.