The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-13
.AGLE SIM 10 HELD
YOU figure TAXES
VIII Send Experts into Ev.
cry County to Interpret
Income Tax Law.

HADNEHSBURG, w. Va, Dec. H.
You won't have to figure out your own
income tax all by yourself hereafter.
Tho government Is going to send out
men 10 help you. It will be up to you
70 hunt up these men, who will be
eont into every county seat town, and
some other towns besides, to meet the
~eopie. Postmasters, bankers and
Newspapers will be able to tell you
hen the governments income tax
Ian will be around, and where to find
Him. He will answer your questions,
ecHear 9ou to the return. take your
money, and remove the wrinkling from
10rr brow. Returns Of income for 1917
must be made between January I and
UnSch !, 1918.
'eThe government recognizes" Col.
lbctor Of Internal Revenue 8. A. Hays,
6nid today, that many persons expert
|Ience good deal Of difficulty in fill
'ing out income tax forms. It recognizes
hoo, that taxpayers resident at points
where collectors offices are not easily
|occe6sible find Il. hard to get proper in
ftructicn In the law. Next year, when
every married person living with wife
cr husband. and having net income Of
10000 and every unmarried person
mot the head Of family and having q
met income Of $1,000 for the year 1917,
must make return Of income on the
form prescribed, there will be hun.
dredB in every community seeking
Light on the law, and help In executing
their returns. My own and every 9th.
| ~ collection district In the nation will
Sbe divided into districts, with the coun-
~ as the unit, and a government Off
Ger Informed In the income tax assign.
led to each district. He will spend
hardly less than q week in each coun-
! ~ and In some counties a longer time,
very likely in the court house at the
county seat town. In cities where
there are collectors branch offices. he
Twill be Ahere, andsin other cities pos.
tibly ct the city hall. My office will
II due time advise postmasters and
bankers ana send out notices to the
newspapers stating when the officer
WilI be in each county. It will be un.
necessary for prospective taxpayers to
ask my office for forms on which to
make returns. The officer who visits
their county will have them.
s'Itmay be stated as matter OF gen
erals Information that net income is
the remainder after subtracting ex.
penses from gross income. Personal,
family. or living expense is not ex-
rcnse IN the meaning of the law, the
Resumption being allowed to cover such
Expenses.
The new exemptions Of $1,000 and
ne, 900 will add tens of thousands to
We number Of income taxpayers in tlris
trick tnasmuch as practically every
rmer, merchant, tradesman, profes.
sional man and salary worker and a
treat many wage workers will be re.
1uired to make return and pay tax.
The law makes 1t the duty of the
axpayer to seek out the collector.
Many people assume that IL an income
AK form Is not sent. or a government
sfficer does not=call, they are relieved
rom making report. This Is decided
In error, 1t is the other way round.
The taxpayer has to go to the govern.
nent and II he doesn't within the time
prescribed, he is violator of the law,
md the government will go to him with
u penalties"