The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-18
FOR INCOME TAX
Government VIII Help Individ-
ualS Make Out Lists.
Experts VIII Be Sent to Every
Community.
CAN'T TAKE OUT EXPENSES
Grocery Bills Cannot Be De-
Quoted From Income.
Government Does Not Have To
Look Up individuals.

Wichita, Kan. Dec. 1S.-You won't
have to figure out your own income
tax all by yourself hereafter. The
government is going to send out men
to help you. 1t will be up to YOU to
hunt up these men, who will be sent
into every county seat town, and some
other towns besides, to meet the peo-
pie. Postmasters bankers and news
papers will he able to tell you when
the governments income tax man will
be around, and where to find him.
He Will answer your questions, swear
you to the return, take your money,
and remove the wrinkles from your
brow. Returns of income for 1917
must be made between January l and
March 1, 1918.
The government recognizes Col
loctor of Internal Revenue Pepperell
said, that many persons experience
a good deal of difficulty in filling out
income tax forms. 1t recognizes too,
that taxpayers resident at points
where collectors offices are not easily
accessible find ii hard to get proper
instruction in the law. Next year.
whom every married person living with
wife or husband and having a net in
come of $4,000. and every unmarried
person not the head of a family and
having 4 net income of $1,000 for the
year 1917 must make return of income
on tho form prescribed, there will be
hurdre DIS in every community seeking
light on the law, and help in eXeCui-
ing their returns. My own and every
other collection district in the nation
VIII, he divided into districts. with the
county as the unit, and a government
o 'ficer informed in the income tax as
sicned to each district. He will spend
hardly less than a week in each coun-
~. and in some counties a longer
time, very likely in the courthouse at
the county seat town. In cities where
there are collectors branch Offices. he
will he there. and in other cities pos
silly at the city hall.
Send Out Notices.
My office will in due time advise
postmasters and bankers and send out
notices to the newspaper stating when
the officer will be in each county 1t
will he unnecessary for prospective
taxpayers to ask my office for forms
on which to make returns. The officer
who visits their county will have them.
1T may he stated as a matter of
general information that net in
CORE is the remainder after subtract
ing EXPENSES from gross income. Per-
sonal. family. or living expense is not
expense in the meaning Of the law,
the exemption being allowed to cover
sucN eXpenSes
THE new exemptions of 81 900 and
50 600 will add tens of thousands to
the rumber of income taxpayers in
this district. inasmuch as practically
every farmer. merchant, tradesman,
professional man and salary worker
and a great many wage workers will
lie required to make return and pay
tav
The law mates it the duty of the
t~xpayer to seek out the collector.
1T~nv people assuue that if an income
tev form is not sent, or a government
cSri~ar docs not call, they are relieved
tTor making retort. This is decided
j. in error. Tt is the other way around
TIE taxpayer has to go to the govern
rr~nt and if he doesn't within the time
prcscrjbed he is violator of the law,
and the government will go to him
with SC PENALTIES"