The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1918-03-30
FEDERAL INCOME
TAX IN BRIEF
The Requirements Boiled Down
for Busy Folks.

before. June Is, 1918.
If you are single and your net IN
come for 1917 was $1,000 or more you
must file return.
II you were married and living with
wife Tor husband) and had net in
come of $1,000 or more for 1917 you
must file return.
Husbands and wife's income must
be considered jointly, plus income OF
minor children.
Income Of a minor or incompetent.
derived from a separate estate, must
be 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.
For failure to make return on or
before April /, 1918, fine is from $20
| to 81 900, plus 50 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 per-
son who Is i'll, absent from the country
| or otherwise incapacitated.
Each return must be signed ana
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
Tor husband) is allowed $1,000 exemp-
ton, plus $500 for each dependent
child under H.
A head Of family, though single, Ia
| allowed $1,000 exemption II actually
supporting one or more relatives.
i 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 a state. county. city or town In
the United States.
Interest on state and municipal
bonds issued within the o. 8. Ii 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 $1,000 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-
ficiary 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 IL not income. but
the interest on such notes or mort
cages is taxable 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 if bought for resale. But II bought
for breeding purposes cattle are an in
vestment, not an expense. and cannot
be allowed.
A storekeeper can claim amounts
paid for advertising, clerk hire, tele
\ phone, water, light and fuel, also dray
= age and freight bills and cost of op
Y Grating and repairing wagons ant
z trucks
= A physician can claim cost OF hi:
professional supplies, rent. office help
= telephone, expense of team or automO
q bile used In making professional CALI
and expenses attending medical con
ventiOns.
A dentist can claim similar items
= except team or auto expense, which
q are. not necessary in his profession.
= Expenses that are personal or con
= nected in any way with the support o
well being of a person or family ar
not allowable.
= The costs of machines. instruments
on f,,nloynopfc that NOR