The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-26
FACTS ABOUT THE
INCOME TAX

W aShlngton, March E5.-W hen
Kipling said There's never a law
of God nor man runs north of So"
he wasn't figuring on an income tax
levied by the congress of the United
States for the support OF a war
against German autocracy. Patriot
ism, as shown by the returns reach
ing the treasury department, knows
no geographical bounds. The in
come tax in its several forms, ap-
plies to the forty-eight states, the
District OF Columbia, the territory
OF Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands.
Returns are coming from as lar
north as the Arctic coast OF Alaska,
SiXty-nine degrees north Of the
Equator-as far south as the outer
most islet OF the Reefs OF Florida,
as lar west as the remotest island
OF the Hawaiian group and as lar
east as the iarthest coast of Maine.
Within this territory which com.
prises S,624,O00 square miles, there
were in 1915, according to the CEN
sus for that year, lO2,20S.OOO per-
sons. OF these it is estimated that
between 100000 and 100000
will be required to file an income
tax return, the law applying to ey-
cry unmarried person whose net in
come for 1917 was 81 900 or more
and to every married person whose
net income was $1,000 or more. The
returns, millions of which already
have been received, must be in the
hands of the collector OF internal
revenue in the district in which
the taxpayer lives or has his place
OF business on or before April J..
The penalty for failure is fine of
not less than $40 nor more than ST.
900 and an additional assessment of
so per cent of the amount OF tax
due. Taxpayers will pay at least S2
out OF every 500 of net income for
1917, the rate increasing with the
income.
The exemptions under the war
revenue act of October 5, 1917, are
81 600 for unmarried persons and
$1,000 for married persons. Under
the act of September 8, 1916, which
remains in force, the exemptions are
$4,000 for unmarried persons and
$4,000 for married persons. An adj
ditional levy or SurtaX ranging from
| per cent on incomes between S.
600 and $500 to 50 per cent on in
comes in excess Of $l,O0O,JO0 is im-
posed by the act OF 1917.
The act of 1916 imposes a surtaX
ranging from per cent on in
comes between $4,000 and $4,000
to l3 per cent on incomes in excess
OF S2000000.
The estimated revenue to be col
lected under both acts is $36O0000,-
900, an average tax OF 1903 for every
square mile OF territory in the Unit
ed States or $l.55 for very square
acre.
Payment OF the tax must be made
on or before June Is, 1918.
Thousands OF taxpayers, however
in response to the urgent request OF
theBureau of Internal Revenue, are
paying their tax at the time Of filing
their return, thus saving themselves
and the government additional time
and trouble. At the head OF the
Internal Revenue Service is Com
missioner Daniel {. Roper. Aiding
him are sixty-four collectors OF in
ternal revenue in as many collection
districts throughout the country,
and thousands Of deputies, revenue
officers and agents, all OF whom are
working night and day to complete
the gigantic task. Volunteer assist
ance is being rendered by the state
and county Councils of National
Defense, the field force Of the de
partment of agriculture. and other
government departments, banks,