The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-12-29
INCOME TAX OFFICER COMING
Government Representative to Visit
DonaldsonvilIe, Jan. Is to 2s.

Donaldsonville, Jan. Is to 2s.
In communication received by the
Chief from Collector of Internal Rev
enue J. Y. Fauntleroy, of New Or
leans, announcement is made that a
federal. income tax officer will be
stationed in Donaldsonvilie from
Jan. 25 to 20, inclusive, for the pur-
pose of giving information concern
ing the operation of the new income
tax law and assisting persons subject
| to the tax to make out their returns.
The officer will have his headquarters
at the courthouse, and will be on duty
during the entire day throughout the
period of his stay here. His services
will be available to taxpayers free of
cost.
The government realizes that many
persons will experience a good deal
of difficulty in filling out the income
tax forms, and also that taxpayers
residing away from cities in which
collectors officers are located may
have difficulty in obtaining proper in
struction concerning the law. When
it is remembered that every married
couple whose joint net income
amounts to $4,000, and every single
person having net income of $1,000,
for the year 1917, is subject to the
income tax and must make return
thereof, it will be seen that there will
be hundreds of persons in every par
ish seeking light on the law and as
sistance in the execution of their re-
turns.
Collector Fauntleroy estimates the
number of taxpayers in Ascension
parish at about $50.
Returns of income for the year
1917 must be made on forms provid-
ed for the purpose before March l,
1918. Because great many people
do not understand the law and won't
know how to make out their returns,
the government is sending this expert
to do it for them. But the duty is on
the taxpayer to make himself known
to the government. If he doesn't file
his return as required before March
l, he may have to pay fine or go to
Jail. In other words, it is up to the
taxpayer to come forward voluntarily,
and failure to do so will result In the
imposition of penalty ranging from
$40 to $1,000, and be looked upon as
a serious violation of the law, which
may warrant prosecution in the Cnl-
ted States courts. So if you don't
want to take chances on going to jail,
it would be we'll for you to call on the
income tax man. If you are not sure
about being subject to the tax, better
ask him and make sure Whether you
see him or not, you must make return
if subject to the tax.
Of course, all persons concerned
are expected to see the officer at the
most convenient place for them to go,
whether they are residents of other
parishes or not.
It May be stated as q matter Of
general information that net income
is the remainder after subtractlng
expenses from gross income. Ex-
penses, however, do not mean per-
sonal, family or living expense, money
used to pay off the principal Of debt,
or for the purchase of new machinery,
erection or repair of buildings, or
anything like that. They mean what
you spend in making your money
interest on loans, taxes paid, hired
help, amount paid for goods sold,
seed, stock bought for feeding, rent
(exce ept for your dwelling,) etc. Ex-
emptions of $1,000 for single per-
son and $4,000 for married person
Cplus 5000 for each dependent child
under the age of Is years. are the
only amounts allowed for expenses
under the law. All classes of per-
sons having incomes in excess Of these
amounts are affected, viz: farmers,
merchants, tradesmen, professional
men, salaried men, wage earners, etc.
Collector Fauntleroy suggests that
everybody begin now figuring their
income and expenses, so as to be-
ready with the figures when the ex-
pert arrives.