Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-12-26
INCOME TAX man
IN DEBORAH JAN. 2
VIII be at Court House. from January
z to the Is to Answer Questions
About the Law and Assist
Persons in Making
Returns.
THE TAXPAYER MUST
CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT
All Persons Here Having Taxable
Incomes Had Better Call on Him
on Above Dates.

Louis Murphy, of Dubuque, inter.
nal revenue collector has forwarded
the letter below to the Citizens Saw.
ings Bank, and it is an important
matter and should be read by every
| body here, as it relates to the new
income taxes: -
L beg to advise you of certain
plans in relation to the individual in
come tax which will relieve bankers
from large burden of work thrust
upon them during the months Of Jan
uary and February, when income
tax forms must be executed and sent
to the collector of Internal Revenue.
1t is fact we'll recognized by my
Office that very many taxpayers seek
the assistance of bankers in making
out their returns and that this prac-
tice is so general as to constitute a
serious encroachment upon the bank
er's time. In January and February
1918, when returns must be made OF
income received during the year
1917, and when, because of the new
and reduced exemptions of $1,000
for single persons and $4,000 for
married persons, the number of tax
payers will be enormously increased,
there will be immensely greater en-
croachment upon your time.
You will be pleased, therefore, to
know that the plans referred to will
relieve you from this burden in large
part, at least.
II is the purpose uf-thtse -UffceHtu'
send an income tax officer into your
county to assist all persons subject to
the income tax law in making out
their returns; to answer their ques-
tions about the law and to assist
them in the measure of his ability.
This officer will be at the Court
House in Decorah from Jan. I'd to
10Th, both dates inclusive, and at
Calmar Savings Bank in Calmar from
Jan. 16 to 2S, both dates inclusive.
He will be on the job every day, rea-
dy and willing to help persons sub
ject to the income tax make out their
returns without any cost to them for
his services. He will have an ample
supply of income tax forms, render
ing it unnecessary for the taxpayers
who shall call upon him to ask for
forms from this office, or for you to
ask for them in advance Of his arri-
val. Inasmuch as his stay il your
county will be limited to the dates
specified and he will not be returned
to your county again, it is of the ut
most Importance that all prospective
taxpayers take advantage of his pres
ence there by calling upon him on
one of the dates suggested, the ear
lier the date the better.
May l not, therefore, suggest to
you the wisdom and necessity, as
protection of yourself, if not as a pa
triotic service, of communicating by
letter, telephone or otherwise with
so many Of your depositors as you
believe to have taxable incomes ad-
vising them of the date when Gov
ernment income tax officer will be
there and suggesting the advisable
ity of calling upon him, and instruct
the employees at the banks windows
to impart this information to deposit
tors?
There is a common and erroneous
impression that it is the Govern
ment's duty to call upon the taXpay-
er On the contrary the taxpayer
must call upon the Government. II
he fails to report his income when
due he thereby subjects himself to
penalties ranging from $40 to $1,000
nne, or imprisonment.