The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-19
INTERNAL REVENUE MEN
MUST Be COURTEOUS
May Separate You From Your Cash,
But Must do so in a Gentiel Way

Washington. D. c.. March Is
when you start out to collect So
100000, 900 be nice
The Bureau of Internal Revenue is
seeking to impress this advice upon
every one of its thousands of en-
ployes who are aiding in the col
lection of war revenues. To this end
it is having prepared for the guild
ance and assistance of its forces a
manual which will contain sugges-
lions of value to every large agency
which comes in contact with the pub
lie.
Courtesy and square dealing are
essentials demanded by Commission
er of Internal Revenue Daniel G.. Ro-
per. Suggestions for use in the man
ual, the adoption of which will as
sure the taxpayer of such treatment
We're sought from collectors of inter
nal revenue, deputy collectors, reye-
nue. agents and the field force.
Here are a few already received:
The Government representative
should be courteous at all times, have
a cherry manner and forget the
crouch, never, under any circumstan-
ces, lose his temper, and avoid all
arguments.
He should never accept gift or
favor of any kind from a taxpayer.
Should there arise a difference of
opinion with regard to details the at
titude and manner of the represen-
tative of the Government must in
variably be one which gives no sug-
gestion of doubt as to Taxpayers
motives"
Never put anything over on the
taxpayer, because that is a kaiser
like abuse of authority and the man
who does it isn't fit to be vested with
authority"
Tell the taxpayer all his rights
The Government wants every cent
due it, and it wants the taxpayer to
keep every cent he is entitled to
keep"
"A man in the field force should
never lose sight of the fact that
ours is a Government of the people,
by the people and for the people
The people with whom we come in
contact constitute this Government,
which employees us to serve them"
With these precepts in the mind of
the man who is collecting the tax,
the man who is paying will know
that he is getting what the Govern
ment wants him to have-a square
deal
The period for filing returns, which
are required OF every unmarried per
son whose income for 1917 was ST.
600 or more, and every married per
son whose income was $4,000 or
more, ends April l. 1t is estimated
that the enumber of returns that will
than 1000, 900. The penalty for
failure is fine of not less than $40
nor more than 81 600, and an addi-
tional assessment of so per cent. of
the amount of tax due. Plans for
checking the returns have been made
by the Bureau OF Internal Revenue
and the man who deliberately evades
the income tax, it is announced, need
expect no leniency. Under the lin
formation at source provision of the
law every employer is required to
file with the Commissioned Inter
nal Revenue report of payments of
$500 or more made to each employe
during the year 1917. Thousands of
such reports have been received.
Payment must be made on or be
fore June 18th. Millions of taxpay-
ers, however, are saving themselves
and the Government time and trou-
BILE by paying their tax at the time of
filing their return. The penalty for
making a false or fraudulent return
is a fine not exceeding $4,000 or not