The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-03-27
Penalties for Income Dodgers Are
Severe--Get Your Return In
If You Are Liable

d"iiou W HE returns unQer the pro-
visions Of law and who fail to gel
their reurns in on time are subject
to severe penalties, as follows:
For making false or fraudulent re.
turn, not exceeding $4,000 or not ex
ceeding one years Imprisonment OF
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.
600, 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 pre-
scribed by law you may obtain an ex.
tension of 80 days if a request there
for is filed with the collector of your
district before the due date of the re
turn. In this request you must state
the reason why the return cannot be
filed within the time prescribed by
law
Collectors of internal revenue are
not authorized to grant extensions of
more han 30 days, but the commits.
sioner of internal revenue has
authority to grant reasonable
extension beyond 30 days in meri.
torious cases. If you desire an ex-
tension of more than 80 days your
request should be addressed to the
commissioner and should contain a
detailed statement covering the rea-
sons which make it 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.
II you failed to get in touch with the
deputy which visited your section it
is not too late to get advice. Consult
your postmaster as to where the
nearest deputy is now. Get your
blank form, study the directions and
the requirements as shown thereon
and make your return without fail If
your income was sufficient to come
within the bounds named in the law.
1t is pointed out by Commissioner
Roper that it is important that the
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. 1.-THE war
must be paid for" says Commission
or Roper. Congress has az much
right to conscript just portion of
income as it has to conscript our
boys. The tax for 1917 is designed
to reach moderate as we'll as large
incomes, so that all persons who are
in financial position to bear a portion
Of the heavy government expenses
can be assessed In proportion to
pay.
1.-THE man who is barely making a
living or barely supporting a family
is not affected by the 1917 law. But
the man who is able to bear a shore
of the burden has been reached by
the new law, and he should accept
his responsibility in the same patrio-
tic spirit that our young men have
shown in offering themselves for this
great purpose of the country to make
the world safe for people of all kinds
to live in and to govern themselves"
This tax is one which recognizes
women as on an equal basis with
men. The unmarried woman or the
married woman with a salary must
make tax return just the same as
any man. Only the woman support
ing her mother or other members of
her family may take out $4,000 ex-
emption.
Under the law the head of the
family is the one whose earning pow
er contributes to the family's support.
Similarly a widow with small chill
dren to support can take out $4,000
exemption and 5000 additional ex-
emption for each of her children I'M
der eighteen. Thus it is intended
that the law shall work no hardship
to women having to struggle to get
along. But each must file return If
her income is $1,000.
A man whose wife dies and who
is left with small children to support
upon a moderate income may also
take full exemption under the new
tax law and also claim 5000 exemp-
ton for each of his children under
eighteen.
The llwidower under the law is a
single man and must make tax re-
turn accordingly. Married men need