Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-08
Warns ALL TO FILE
WAR TAX Returns
Government Will Not Take
Initiative, Revenue Col
jclOr Roper Says
WILL PROSECUTE
TAX SLACKERS

m SLhOAhINO
WASHINGTON, Oct. s.-Notice 10 the
public 70 make its tax returns 10 the
government under the new war rev.
enue law has been issued by internal
Revenue Commissioner Roper, in an
interpretive statement Of the laws
operation. Warning was given that IN
no case would the government take
the initiative IN getting IN returns. al
though all returns would be verified
and everybody concerned should COM
municate promptly with the nearest
revenue ONCE.
Persons failing TO make returns,
Mr.. Roper announced, will be regarded
as tax slackers and penalties will be
enforced against them. AS outlined in
the statement. the following persons
are affected and must make returns
to the government:
All individuals receiving incomes Of
more than $1,000 a year.
All corporations. joint stock COM
panles and associations.
All distillers, rectiners, wholesalers
and retailers, holders Of distilled spir-
its intended for sale or 10 be used for
manufacturing purposes.
All dealers in fermenled liquors or
malt liquors. wines, cordials, llqueurs,
domestic and imported
All dealers in soft drinks, table
waters and carbonic acid gas.
All manufacturers OF and dealers I'm
.cigars. cigarettes, tobacco, snum and
Cigarette papers.
All carriers Of freight express or
passengers and all operators Of pipe
lines.
All dealers in life, marine, inland,
FIRE and casualty insurance.
All manufacturers and wholesale
dealers in motor-vehlcles Of every
kind. musical instruments, motion
picture films, jewelry, boats, sporting
goods, perfumes, cosmetics, medicinal
preparations, chewing gum and cam
eras
All proprietors OF amusement places,
including cabarets.
All persons executing legal docu-
ments Of any type.
All traders on produce or stock ex-
changes and boards Of trade.
All importers Of merchandise.
All manufacturers or importers Of
playing cards.
Severe Penalties Provided.
The statement continues:
The law makes It the duty Of every
person. firm or corporation whose
possessions or incomes are taxable 20
make true and correct returns upon
which the tax may be assessed and
NnA &c INF al fa Of rffN nl
Importance TO every citizen because
notwithstanding that the Bureau OF
Internal Revenue Is the agency charged
with the administration OF the new
law and the collection OF the taxes, II
is not regarded that the Bureau Of In
lernal revenue shall find out and IN
form persons, firms or corporations OF
their responsibilities. Such persons
firms and corporations must for them
selves make returns, which, In the
course Of administration the Bureau
Of Internal Revenue will verify.
Severe penalties are provided for
failure upon the part Of any person
firm or corporation TO make the cor
rect inventories and returns required
In the collection Of the tax that
will apply TO articles or commodities
in stock on October Z, 1917, It is the
purpose Of the Bureau Of Internal
Revenue TO make through its field
force preliminary inquiries Of every
person liable to tax to ascertain his
possessions in the way Of taxable
goods and the amount Of tax he is
liable to pay. This preliminary In
quiry will be conducted over period OF
probably a week. Within 30 days from
the date Of enactment Of the new Law
every person, firm or corporation liza.
bic TO floor tax must file with the col
lector OF internal revenue a true anC
correct inventory, under oath, Of goods
in his possession, subject to this tax
Attached to the inventory must be {
SYNOPSIS Of the inventory and a state
ment Of the amount Of tax 10 be paiC
on the goods covered by the inven
tory.
VIII Go After slackers.
This is known as a taxpayers re
turn. Upon the basis OF this return
and an analysis OF the information
disclosed by the preliminary Inquiry
and the taxpayers inventory, tn
proper amount Of tax will be deter
mined. Payment Of the tax must b.
made to the collector Of internal rev
enue at the time OF flllng the return
but payment may be extended TO
date not exceeding seven months iron
The passage OF the act upon the illinI
Of a bond for payment. This BON
must DO given With an approved cor
porate surety company In penal sun
Df not less than double the amount o
he tax and in no case less than Si,OOO
The penalties for failure to com
ply with the requirements OF the laN
are for slackers.
Upon every citizen rests the re
possibility Of contributing TO the ui
most OF his ability toward the sue
sessful termination OF the war. IL
NE unquestoned duty OF every tru
American citizen not only TO pay TN
hull tax the law requires OF him, bu
10 remove every possible obstacle I
lhe successful administration Of IN
law by the Bureau Of Internal hcNe
nue.. Under the circumstances II Is
high privilege for every citizen {
comply strictly with the terms OF "a
law and 10 make IL part Of his dut
70 see that every other citizsn doc