The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-27
BIG HARVEST OF
TAXES COLLECTED c.
Nation Pays Nearly Half
Billion on Day Before
the Penalty Accrued
TOTAL FIGURED
| AT s2,T5,OOo, 900
Revenue Bureau Hears of Scheme for
Filing Amended Income Tax Returns
Which Would Cost Millions Small
Payers Delinquent.


WASHINGTON, June 27-The big
gest harvest of taxes ever gathered by
tile federal government was finished
Tuesday night with the expiration OF
the time for paying excess profits and
income assessments without added penal- |
ties for delinquency. Estimates placed
the sum collected from these sources at
81, rs, 100000 and exact figures probably
will be known next Monday or Tuesday.
Almost a half billion came in Tuesday
from corporations and other big tax
payers who postponed payment as long
as possible.
Payments not made up to june 25 are
subject to penalties of 5 per cent with
per cent month interest. Indications
were that the aggregate of delinquent
payments on returns actually filed would
not be large.
Hundreds Of small business and pro-
| fessional men and other individuals
failed to file returns or to make payments,
however, and against these an intensive
campaign will be waged, starting in two
or three weeks They will be required to-
make belated reports of incomes, and to-
lpay heavy penalties to avoid prosecution
as tax dodgers. The internal revenue bu-
reau, with its ramifications in sixty-four
collection districts and its methods of
gathering accurate information on in
comes, already has prepared a quantity of
statistics TO serve as proof of the nten-
ton of many citizens and business firms
to dodge tax liability.
4 Tax collectors have instructions to tab
ulate their receipts as soon as possible
and to telegraph the result not later
than next Sunday night, June 30, the ex-
piration of the fiscal year,
!. Reports reached the internal revenue
bureau that contingent fee agencies, com
missioned by big taxpayers to file amend
ed returns in which advantage is taken
, of all technicalities to reduce the assess
, Imcnt, We're operating extensively
throughout the United States tending to
/ deprive the government of millions OF
dollars.
Il Scores of men who have familiarized
themselves with technical phases Of the
, revenue law, particularly relating to de
, auctions allowable, are canvassing con
Germs which have made their returns and
!. paid their taxes. ii is reported. propos
ing that they be employed TO work ont
t new returns on which the tax payment
! would be less, and be compensated with
n a percentage of the amount of taxes
: Isaved the concern. These agents then
o have the concerns file amended return,
and apply for refund of the overpayment.
; Tax officials are planning steps to stoI
Il the abuse of the system. There is no lie
3 gal objection, they point out, to the EN-
+ Iployment OF expert professional advice IL
;, making returns originally or even in cor
. recting gross errors which cause injustice
Y to taxpayers Some professional tax ad
. visers, however have persuaded concerns
; virtually TO falsify records of salaries. o.
V other expenses, in order to increase ex
i. emptions on which tax is not paid
: Commissions of these tax experts rang'
o up to 30 per cent, it is said