The Donaldsonville chief., 1918-03-23
APRIL / LAST DAY
FOR FEDERAL RETURNS
Penalties for income Dodgers Are
Severe-Get Your Return
in if You Are Liable.

in if You Are Liable.
April l, 1918, Is the final day al
lowed under the federal income taa
law for the fling 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 ex
ceeding one years Imprisonment, ol
both, In the discretion Of the court
and, in addition, 100 per cent. Of the
tax evaded. ..
For failing to make return on time
not less than $40 nor more than ST.
900, and, In addition, so 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. 80 days IL request therefor Is flied
with the collector Of your district be-
fore the due date Of the return. In
this request you must state the rea'
sou why the return cannot be filed
within the time prescribed by law.
Collectors of internal revenue are
not authorized to grant extensions OF
more than 30 days, but the commits
sioner Of internal revenue has author.
ity to grant q reasonable extension
beyond 80 days in meritOrious cases
Ii you desire an extension of more
than 80 days your request should be
addressed to the commissioner and
should contain a detailed statement
covering the reasons which make il
impossible for you to file your return
on or before April /.
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. Il
you failed to get In touch with the
deputy which visited your section it Ii
not too late to get advice. Consul1
your postmaster as to where the near.
est deputy is now. Get your blank
form, study the directions and the re.
quirements ais shown thereon and
make your return without fail If youl
income was sufficient to come within
the bounds named In the law.
1t is pointed out by Commissione,
Roper that II Ii important that. thu
people comply with the federal laws
as fully as they are complying with
the drafts for men and the conserva'
ton OF foods and fuel. t'The war must
be paid for,' says Commissioner Roper
Congress has as much right to con.
script just portion OF income as Il
| has to conscript our boys. The ta1
for 1917. Is designed to reach moder
ate as well as large incomes, so tina,
all persons who ars in financial posi-
ton to beaEpa portion Of the heav.
| government EXPENSES can be assessed
in proportion to their ability to pay.
| '.The man who is barely making 8
living or barely supporting q family
il not affected by the 1917 law. Blu
the man who is able to bear a share
OF the burden has been reached b.
the new law, and he should accept hi
responsibility ninc the same patriot,
spirit that our young men have shoWI
In offering themselves for this grea1
purpose Of the country to make the
world safe for people of all kinds t.
| live in and to govern themselves"
This tax is one which recognize.
women as on an equal basis with men
| The unmarried woman or the married
| woman with salary must make ta1
return just the same as any man. Only
the woman supporting her mother OF
| other members Of her family may take
out $1,000 exemption
Under the law the head Of the fami
ly is the one whose earning power con
tributes to the family's support.
Similarly a widow with small chill
dren to support Gan rake out $2,00(
exemption and 800 additional exemp
ton for each Of her children undel
eighteen. Thus II Is intended tha
the law shall work no hardship to wo
men having to struggle to get along
But each must file return II her in
come is $1,000.
A man whose wife dies and who Ii
left with small children to suppor
upon moderate income may also take
full exemption under the new tax law
and also claim $500 exemption fol
each Of his children under eighteen.
The widower under the law Is 9
single man and must make tax re
turn accordingly. Married men neet
not file returns unless they are earn
ing $1,000 or more.
"This is as much national obliga
ton as the reporting for duty Of mar
drafted for service with the colors,'
| says D. C. Roper, commissioner of in
ternal revenue. "As 1t stands, 1t Ii
much a matter OF the man or wo
mans own conscience 1t is for hin
or for her to determine just how fal
| ne is liable to the tax. He must figure
his own income and If 1t reaches the
figures named In the law must make
faithful report upon 1t to the proper
authority.
@This tax is distinctly war meas
ure and will be In effect during thu
war.
"This is q peoples tax-it reaches
right down into the pockets of the
| small wage Garner; 1t makes him 9