Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-01-25
NO way TO EVADE
THE INCOME TAX
EVERY GOOD AMERICAN EARNING
FAIR LIVING WILL HELP TO
PAY EXPENSES OF WAR.
RETURNS DUE, BEFORE MARCH

RETURNS DUE, BEFORE MARCH
Heavy Penalties Provided for Failure
to File Them-Government Officials
Will Be in Every County to Assist
the Taxpayers. 81
"sh'"~'on.-"Must l pay an in
come taxa"
mat is the question that thousands
of Americans are asking. The answer,
In general way. lies in this state
ment:
Every unmarried person having q
net income of $1,000 or more, and ev-
cry married person or head Of a fam
lily having an income of So coo or more
must file return. These returns must
be In the hands Of the collector of In
ternal revenue in the district in which
the taxpayer lives or has his principal
place of business between January /
and March 1, 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 cor
rect return within the time specified
involves heavy penalties.
"Net income" means gross income
less certain deductions provided for BY
the act. The law defines income as
profit, gain, wages, salary. commits
sions, money or its equivalent from
professions, vOcatiOns, commerce,
trade. rents, sales and dealings In prop
erty, real and personal, and interest
from investments except interest from
township or county bonds. Incomes
from service as guardian, trustee or
executor; from dividends, pensions,
royalties, or patents, or oil and gas
wells, Goa. land, ETC., are taxable.
Normal Rate 10 2 Per Cent.
The normal rate of tax is per cent
on net inconS's above the amount Of
exemptions, which is $1,000 in the case
of q married person or head of fam
lily and $1,000 in the case of single
person. A married person or head Of
q family IL allowed an additional ex-
emption Of $500 for each dependant
child II under eighteen years Of age
or incapable Of self-support because
defective. The taxpayer is considered
to be the head Of 4 family II he II
actually supporting one or more per.
sons closely codhecteh with him BY
blood relationship or relationship BY
r-a'rirgc. or # his duty to support
such person y hsed q some moral
or legal obiigstiohr ~
Debts aseertalp< nibe worthless
and charged 81 "A y year and
| ! ! : :
taxes paid fxce exes and
those assesses keoefItl
VJso1tD W vv4<I<@ 1870
Notice Of their ARRIVAL
ity will be given in adv foush
the press, banks and post q !. They.
will be supplied With income Z terms
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 to
see this Official In no way relieves
them Of the duty imposed by law to
Ole their returns within the time sped-
6ed. 80
The government Ii not required b
seek the taxpayer. The taxpayer b
required to seek the government Per-
sons In doubt as to whether they art
subject to the tax or not or as to how.
to make out their returns. will readily
understand, therefore. that a visit to
this Official may mean the avoidance
Of later difficulties.
The penalty for failure to make the
return on time IL fine Of not lesD
than $50 nor more than $1,000. and
in addition 80 per cent Of the amouAt
Of the tax due. For making a. false
or fraudulent return the penalty u
a flne not to exceed $1,000 or not ex-
ceeding one years Imprisonment, or
both, in the discretion of the court. and
in addition 100 per cent Of the tax
evaded.
A Il the EarmerS.
The number of farmers who will pay
Income taxes has not been estimated
by the government officials. but 1t 10
certain they will form large percen-
tage of the 100000 persons assessed
who never before have paid an income
tax. The average farmer does net
keep books but II he avails himself Of
the services of government experts
who will be sent to aid him, II will not
be dificult for him to ascertain the
amount Of his net income.
The farmer is making out his return
may deduct depreciation in the value
Of property and machinery used In the
conduct Of his farm, and loss by IRE,
storm or other casualty. or by theft II
not covered BY insurance. Expenses
actually incurred in farm operation
may be deducted. but not family or liv-
Ing expense. Produce raised on the
farm and traded for groceries. wearing