The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1918-03-22
APRIL / LAST DAY
FOR FEDERAL RETURNS
Penalties for income Dodgers Are
Severe--Get Your Return
in if You Are Liable.

lowed under the federal income tax
law for the filing Of federal income
tax returns. Persons who are reQuir-
ed to file returns under the provisions
Of law and who fail to get their re-
turns in on time are subject to Sc
we're penalties as follows:
For making false or fraudulent re-
turn, not exceeding $1,000 or not e7-
ceeding one years Imprisonment, or !
both, In the discretion Of the court,
and In addition, 100 per cent. OF the
tax evaded.
For falling to make return on time,
not less than $50 nor more than ST.
900, and, in addition, 50 per cent. OF
the amount Of tax due.
If on account of Illness or absence
from home YOU are unable to render
your return within The time prescribed
by law you may obtain an extension
of 30 days if request therefor Is nIeu
with the collector Of your district be-
fore the due date Of the return. In
this request you must state tile real
son why the return cannot be nleu
within the time prescribed by law.
Collectors Of internal revenue are
not authorized TO grant extensions or
more than 30 days, but the commits
sloner Of internal revenue has author
ity to grant reasonable extension
beyond 80 days in meritOriouS cases
If YOU desire an extension OF more
than 80 days your request should ne
addressed to the commissioner ana
should contain q detailed statement
covering the reasons which make II
impossible for you to file your return
on or before April l.
The internal revenue men are now
completing their tour of the country,
during which they were in touch with
the people of every city and town. IT
YOU failed to get in touch with the
deputy which visited your section ii Is
not too late to get advice. Consult
YOUR postmaster as to where the near,
est deputy Is now. Get your blank
form, study the directions and the re-
uuirements rs shown thereon and
make your return without fail II your
income was sufficient to come within
the bounds named in the law
1t is pointed out by Commissioner
Roper that 1t is important that the
people comply with the federal laws
MS fully as they are complying with
the drafts for men and the cORServa,
| ton of foods and fuel. "The war must
be paid for" says Commissioner Roper
Congress has as much right to con
script just portion Of income as II
has to cOnscript our boys. The tai
for 1917 is designed to reach meder
ate as well as large incomes. so thai
all persons who are In financial posi-
ton to bear a portion OF the heav.
government expenses can be assessed
In proportion to their ability to pay
'The man who is barely making
living or barely supporting a famil
Is not affected by the 1917 law. Blu
the man who Is able to bear Shar
of the burden has been reached b
the new law, and he should accept hi
responsibility In the same patriot
spirit that our young men have show
In offering themselves for this gre;
purpose of the country to make II
world safe for people of all kinds
live in and to govern themselves"
This tax Is one Which recognize
women as on an equal basis with me-
The unmarried woman or the marie
woman with salary must make tG
return just the same as any man. On
the woman supporting her mother
other members of her family may tai
out $1,000 exemption.
Under the law the head of the fan
Iy is the one whose earning power co
tributes to the family's support.
Similarly a widow with small ch
dren to support can take out $50
exemption and $500 additional exen
ton for each of her children und
eighteen. Thus 1t Is intended tn
/ the law shall work no hardship to "
men having to struggle to get alor
But each must file return If her
1 come Is $1,000.
I A man whose wife dies and who
left with small children to suppt
upon moderate income may also Ia
full exemption under the new tax ]:
and also claim $500, exemption I
each of his children under eighteen
The widower under the law Is
single man and must make tax
turn accordingly. Married men ne
not file returns unless they are eal
/ ing $1,000 or more.
This is as much a national 0bliI
ton as the reporting for duty of m
drafted for service with the color
says d. G. Roper, commissioner of
ternaI revenue. AS it stands, it
much a matter of the man or v
mans own conscience. 1t is for h
or for her to determine just how
he is liable to the tax. He must figl
his own income and If it reaches
figures named in the law must M
faithful rpnOrf unOn II tO tho nr0