The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-19
MUST YOU PAYTAX
ON YOUR INCOME?
Matter That Every American Is
Called On to Determine
Without Delay.
MARCH | LIMIT FOR RETURNS
Failure to File Them Involves Severe
Penalties Will Be As
sisted by Treasury Officials in
Every County.

Every County.
Washington.-The time has arrived
for every American subject to the in
come tax division Of the war revenue
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 a 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 1, 1913.
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.
met income" means gross income
less certain deductions provided for by
the act. The law defines income as
profit, gain, wages, salary, commits
sfonS, 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
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 per cent
on net incomes above the amount of
exemptions, which is $4,000 in the case
of a married person or head of fam
lily and $1,000 in the case of single
person. A married person or head of
a 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 a 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
s,1cA Norson is based on some moral
or legal obligation.
Debts ascertafned to be worthless
Gnu charged off within the year and
taxes paid except income taxes and
those assessed against local benefits
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 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 is
seeking to impress upon persons sub
ject to the tax the fact that failure tt
see this official in no way relieve:
them of the duty imposed by law t.
file their returns within the time speci
fed.
The penalty for failure to make the
return on time is a fine Of not les:
than $50 nor more than $1,000, anC
in addition so per cent of the amour
of the tax due. For making fals'
or fraudulent return, the penalty Il
fine not to exceed $4,000 or not ex
ceeding one years Imprisonment, O
both. in the discretion of the court, ant
In addition 100 per cent of the ta1
evaded.
As to the Farmers.
The number of farmers who will pa,
income taxes has not been estimates
nv the government officials, but it |
certain they will form a large percen
tage of the 100000 persons assesse
who never before have paid an incOm
tax. The average farmer does no
keep books but if he avails himself o
the services of government expert
who will be sent to aid him, it will no
be difficult for him to ascertain tn
amount of his net income.
The farmer is making out his retur
may deduct depreciation in the vain
of property and machinery used in tn
conduct OF his farm, and loss by fir'
storm or other casualty. or by theft
not covered by insurance. Expense
actually incurred in farm operatiO
NAV he deducted. but not family or liz
ing expense Produce raised on TN
farm and traded for groceries. wearin
apparel, etc. is counted as living e!
penditures and cannot be deducted.