New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-12-14
HELPING YOU MAKE
Income TAX BLANK.
Collector Walsh Announces Plan
to Prevent Brain Fag
Especial to the Herald)

Y Hartford, Dec. 14.-You won't have |
to figure out your own income tax all |
by yourself Observation-Disclosures /
is going to send out men to help you. !
It will be up to you to hunt up these |
men, who will be sent into the various
cities, towns, boroughs and villages in
the states of Connecticut and Rhode
Island, which comprises the Connec-
ticut district to meet and assist the
people. Postmasters, bankers and
newspapers will be 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
and March 1, 1918.
1.-THE government recognizes" COL
lector of Internal Revenue James J.
Walsh said today, ''that many persons
experience a good deal of difficulty in
filing out income tax forms. 1t rec
ognizes. too, that taxpayers resident at
points where collectors offices are not
easily accessible find it hard to get
proper instruction in the law. Next
year, when every married person liv-
ing with wife or husband and having
a net income Of $4,000, and every I'M
married person not the head of a fam
lily and having a net income Of 81, 900
for the year 1917 must make return
Of income on the form prescribed,
there will be hundreds In every COM
munity seeking light on the law, and
held in executing their returns. My
own and every other collection dis
trict in the nation will be divided into
districts, with the county as a unit,
and a government officer informed in
the income tax assigned to each dis
trict. He will spend hardly less than
week in each city or town, and in
some cities and towns a longer time,
very likely in the post Offices and town
halls. In cities where there are COL
lector's branch Offices, he will be there
My Office will in due time advise post
masters and bankers and send out no.
tees to the newspapers stating when
the officer will be in each city or town.
It win be unnecessary for prospective
taxpayers to ask my office for forms
on which to make returns. The Off
Ger who visits their community will
have them
It may be stated as a matter of
general information that net in
come Is the remainder after subtract
ing expenses from gross income. Per
sonal, family, or living expenses are
not expense IN the meaning OF the
law, the exemption being allowed to
cover such expense.
The new exemptions Of $1,000 and
$4,000 will add tens of thousands tc
the number of income taxpayers in
this district, inasmuch as practically
every farmer, merchant, tradesman
professional man and salary worker
and a great many wage earners will
be required to make returns and pay
tax.
The law makes it the duty Of the
taxpayer to seek out the collector
Many people assume that if an in
come tax form is not sent, or gov
ernment officer does not call, they ar
relieved Of making reports. This il
decidedly in error. 1t is the othe
way around. The taxpayer has to g
to the government and if he doesn'
vfthtn the prescribed time, he is
Dictator of the law, and the govern
ment will go to him with its penal
Ties"