Milford chronicle., 1917-10-12
WARNS ALL TO file
WAR TAX returns
Government Will Not Take lnitia-
tive, Revenue Collector Roper
Says-Will Prosecute Tax
Slackers.

Notice to the public to make its
tax returns to the government under
the new war revenue law has been
issued by Internal Revenue Commits
sioner Roper, in an interpretive state
ment of the laws operation. Warn
ing was given that in no case would
the government take the initiative IN
getting returns, although all returns
would be verified and everybody con
cerned should communicate promptly
with the nearest revenue office.
Persons failing to make returns,
Mr.. Roper announced, will be regard
ed as tax slackers and penalties will
be enforced against them. AS out
lined in the statement, the following
persons are affected and must make
returns to the government:
All individuals receiving incomes
of more than $1,000 year.
All corporations, joint stock com
panies and associations.
All distillers, Tectifiers, wholesalers
and retailers, holders of distilled spir-
its intended for sale or to be used for
manufacturing purposes.
All dealers in fermented liquors or
D
domestic and imported.
All dealers in soft drinks, table
waters and carbonic acid gas.
All manufacturers of and dealers IN
cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, snuff 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 vehicles of every
kind, musical instruments, notion
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,
to make true and correct returns up
on which the tax may be assessed
and collected. This information is of
vital importance to every citizen be-
cause, notwithstanding that the Bur
eau of Internal Revenue is the agency
charged with the administration OF
the new law and the collection of tax
es. it is not regarded that the Bureau
of Internal Revenue shall find out and
inform persons, firms or corporations
Of their responsibilities. Such per-
sons. firms or corporations must for
themselves make returns, which. IN
the course of administration the Bur
eau 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.
I'm the collection of the tax that
will apply to articles or commodities
in stock on October 4, 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 la
Bile to pay. This preliminary inquiry
will be conducted over period of prob
ably a week. Within 80 days from
the date of enactment of the new law
every person, firm or corporation liza
BILE to floor tax must file with the col
lector of Internal Revenue true and
correct inventory under oath, of goods
in his possession, subject to this tax.
Attached to the inventory must be a
svnopsis of the inventory and state
ment of the omount of tax to be paid
on the goods covered by the inven-
tory.
This is known as taxpayers re-
turn. Upon the basis Of this return
and an analysis of the Information
disclosed by the preliminary inquiry
and the taxpayers inventory, the
nroper amount of tax will be deter
mined. Payment of the tax must De
made to the collector Of internal rev.
enue at the time of filing the return
hut payment may be extended to
date not exceeding seven months from
the passage of the act upon the ming |
of a bond for payment. This Donu
must be given with an approved cor
Dorate surety company in penal sum
of not less than double the amount OF
the tax, and in no case less than ST.
600.
upon every citizen rests the re-
sponsibility of contributing to the ut
most of his ability toward the sue
cessful termination Of the war. 1t is
the unauestioned duty Of every true
American citizen not only to pay the
full tax the law requires Of him, but
10 remove every possible obstacle to
the successful administration Of the
law. by the Bureau Of Internal Reye-
nue. Under the circumstances it is
high privilege for every citizen to