The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1918-03-23
FEDERAL INCOME
TAX IN BRIEF
The Requirements Boiled Down
for Busy Folks.

Returns must be filed on or before
April I, 1918.
Tax due may be paid now or on OF
before June IS. 1918.
II you nre single and your net In
come for 1917 was $1,000 or more you
must flle n return.
II you were married and living with
wife Cor husband) and had a net In
come OF $1,000 or more for 1917 you
must file return.
Husbands and wlfe's income must
be considered Jointly. plus income OF
minor children.
Income OF a minor or incompetent,
derived from a separate estate, must
bo reported by his legal representa-
tive.
Severe penalties are provided for
those who neglect or evade the law.
For false or fraudulent return there
is a penalty not exceeding $1,000 fine
or years Imprisonment. or both, plus
100 per cent. of tax.
TOl W iNluih "" VI
before April /, 1918, fine Is from $50
to $1,000. plus 80 per cent of tax due.
Returns must be filed with the Col
lector Of Internal Revenue Of district
In which you live.
An agent may file return for a per
son who Is Ill, absent from the country
or otherwise inoapacltated.
Each return must be signed and
sworn or affirmed by person execut-
ing It.
Single persons are allowed $1,000
exemption In computing normal tax.
A married person living with wife
Cor husband) is allowed $1,000 exemp-
tion, plus $500 for each dependent
child under 18.
A head of family, though single, is
allowed $1,000 exemption II actually
supporting one or more relatives.
Returns must show the entire
amount Of earnings, gains and profits
received during the year.
officials and employees are not taxa
BILE on the salaries or wages received
from u state, county, city or town In
the United States.
Interest on state and municipal
bonds issued within the u. 8. is ex-
empt from federal income tax and
should be omitted.
Interest on United States govern
ment bonds is also exempt. except on
individual holdings Of Liberty Fours In
excess of 5000 par value.
Dividends are not subject TO normal
tax, but must be reported and included
in net income.
Gifts and legacies are not income
and should not be included on the re.
turn Of the beneficiary.
Life insurance received as bene-
ficlary or as premiums paid back at
maturity or surrender OF policy Is not
Income.
Payments received for real or per-
sonal property sold Is not income, but
the profit realized thereon is income
for the year OF sale.
Amounts received In payment OF
notes or mortgages is not income. but
the interest on such notes or mort
RhgeS Is IhKdDle income.
From the entire gross income GER
tain allowances are made In arriving
at the net income.
Necessary expenses actually paid In
the conduct of business, trade or pro-
fession may be claimed.
A farmer can claim payments for
labor, seed, fertilizer, stock feed, re-
pairs on buildings, except his dwelling
repairs OF fences and farm machinery,
materials and small tools for immedi-
ate use.
The amount OF rent paid for farm
may also be claimed as tenant farm
er's expense.
Payments for live stock are allowa-
BILE II bought for resale. But II bought
for breeding purposes cattle are an In
vestment. not an expense, and cannot
be allowed.
paid for advertising, clerk hire, tele-
phone, water, light and fuel, also dray-
age and freight bills and cost of op-
Grating and repairing wagons and
trucks.
A physician can claim cost OF his
professional supplies, rent. Office help,
telephone, expense OF team or automo-
bile used In making professional calls
and expenses attending medical con-
ventions.
A dentist can claim similar items,
except team or auto expense, which
are not necessary In his profession.
Expenses that are personal or con-
nected In any way with the support or
well being of person or family are
not allowable.
The costs Of machines, instruments,
vehicles or implements that are more
or less permanent In character are not
allowable as an expense. They are In
vestments.
Interest paid on a mortgage or other
personal Indebtedness is allowable on
u personal return.
All taxes paid within the year can
be taken out on a federal return, ex-
cept federal income taxes, inheritance
taxes and assessments for local i'm
proyements.
Ioasas sustained In husInasS or