The Jasper news., 1918-01-10
Matter That Every American Is
Called On to Determine
Without Delay.
MARCH | LIMIT FOR RETURNS
Failure to File Them Involves Severe
Penalties-Taxpayers viii Be AS
sisted by Treasury Officials In
Every County.

act to figure up. his income and file
his return. If he Is unmarried and
has net income of $1,000 or more, or
If he is married or the head of fam
lily and his net income is $1,000 or
more, he must pay the tax. His re-
turn must be in the hands of the col
lector of internal revenue in the dis
trict in which the taxpayer lives or
has his principal place of business be-
fore March l, 1918.
The man who thinks to evade this
tax Is making a serious error. Revenue
officials will be in every county to
check returns. Failure to make a cor
rect return within the time specified
involves heavy penalties.
met income" means gross income
less certain deductions provided for by
the act. The law defines income as
profit, gain, wages, salary, commits
slons, money or It's equivalent from
professions, vocations, commerce,
trade, rents, sales and dealings in prop
erty, real and personal, and interest
from investments except interest from
government bonds, or state, municipal
township or county bonds. Incomes
from service as guardian, trustee or
executor; from dividends, pensions,
royalties, or patents, or oil and gas
wells, coal land, etc, are taxable.
Normal Rate Is Per Cent.
The normal rate of tax Is 2 per cent
on net incomes above the amount of
exemptions, which Is $1,000 in the case
Of married person or head of fam
lily and $1,000 in the case of a single
person. A married person or head of
family Is allowed an additional ex-
emption of 5000 for each dependant
child If under eighteen years Of age
or incapable of self-support because
| defective. The taxpayer Is considered
| to be the head of family If he Is
| actually supporting one or more per-
sons closely connected with him by
blood relationship or relationship by
marriage, or If his duty to support
| such person is based on some moral
or legal obligation.
Debts ascertained to be worthless
and charged off within the year and
taxes paid except income taxes ana
those assessed against local benetits
are deductible. These and other points
of the income tax section of the war
revenue act will be fully explained by
revenue officers who will visit every
county In the United States between
January 2 and March | to assist tax
payers in making out their returns.
officers to Visit Every Locality.
Notice of their arrival in each local
ity will be given in advance through
the press, banks and post offices. They
will be supplied with income tax forms
copies OF which may be obtained also
from collectors of internal revenue.
The bureau of internal revenue IL
seeking to impress upon persons sub
ject to the tax the fact that failure II
see this official in no way relieve!
them of the duty imposed by law tt
file their returns within the time speci
fed.
The penalty for failure to make tn
return on time Is fine OF not les
than $50 nor more than $1,000, ant
in addition so per cent of the amour
of the tax due. For making q falls
or fraudulent return, the penalty
n fine not to exceed $1,000 or not eS
ceeding one years Imprisonment, o
both, in the discretion of the court an
in addition 100 per cent OF the ia
evaded.
As to the Farmers.
The number of farmers who will pa
Income taxes has not been estimate
by the government officials but 1t
certain they will form large percel
tage Of the 100000 persons assesse
who never before have paid an incon
: tax. The average farmer does M
keep books but II he avails himself
the services of government exper
who will be sent to aid him, 1t VIII N
be difficult for him to ascertain II
amount of his net income.
The farmer is making out his retul
may deduct depreciation In the vail
: of property and machinery used In Il
) conduct of his farm, and loss by fir
storm or other casualty, or by theft
not covered by insurance. Expens
+ actually incurred in farm operate
may be deducted, but not family or II
ing expense. Produce raised on 4
+ farm and traded for groceries, weari
apparel, etc, is counted as living e
pendltures and cannot be deducted.