The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-28
Warning
To Income
Tax Payers

A warning against "fake experts" on
Income Tax has been sounded by the
Internal Revenue Bureau, in a state
ment just received by Collector of In
ternal Revenue James M. Cathcart
from Commissioned Daniel G. Roper.
Business houses and individual
taxpayers are being canvassed this
year by numerous so-called Income
Tax Experts who offer to use their
magic wands of Income Tax wisdom
to, relieve the busy taxpayer from all
worries about his tax responsibilities.
Il desire to make public announce
ment, for the information of taxpay-
ers, that an investigation of the quail
ifications of many of these experts
will disclose the fact that very few
have had the training and experience
that would place them anywhere near
the expert class.
Some of them were formerly tenn
porary employees of the government
who are attempting to capitalize this
fact regardless of their personal
knowledge of the revenue laws and
regulations. Others are soliciting
clients on the strength of diplomas
as Income Tax experts obtained after
taking long-distance courses by
means of printed instructions OF
doubtful value.
Taxpayers should not allow them
selves to be imposed upon by strang
; ers who claim to be Income Tax ex
perts. They should discriminate
carefully between really helpful au
thoritative advice in tax matters, ant
the irresponsible brand peddled un
der glittering pretenses.
1.-The Bureau is arranging to furn
ish for the benefit of Income Tax pay
ers in every city and town in tn
country, free advisory service b,
trained collectors, agents, inspector
and deputies. At the offices Of tn
Collectors and their Deputies, and a
II other central points, free information
and advice with respect to filing re
turns under the new Revenue Bill
may be had up to the final date 10
filing such returns.
Banks, trust companies and sim
= lar responsible institutions have a
" ways cooperated in furnishing al
y thentic Income Tax information, an
% generously offered to serve the go
eminent and taxpayers In this respet
again this year.
1T is the aim of the Bureau
= bring its agencies as close as poss
BILE to every person and to max
available in official form all necessaI
information regarding the requir
: ments of the law. The Bureau we
- comes aid from every responsib
agency in its efforts to enlighten Il
:. people on tax matters.
EVERY taxpayer is assured OF
- square deal from the Governmel
:, biased entirely on the tax laws al
Regulations and the facts in his cas-
mo other influence is allowed to emit
az into Internal Revenue matters al
=. the statement of any firm or tndivl
: ual that they are in position to G
-, lert special influence with Intern
Revenue officers is wholly witho
!. foundation in fact Painstaking al
openminded consideration is given
every case regardless Of whether Z
-. taxpayer appears in person or by
torney.
:. Firms or persons who offer
- nrosecute claims against the Cover
-, ment can secure no special consid
alton beyond the merits Of the clail
40 as determined by the facts and t
ar law.
"Any former government officer
&c, employee is barred by statute fri
Dir lacting as counsel, attorney or age
,,te for prosecution Of claims against
ow United States which were pendi
ron while he was an officer or employt
arc and is also barred from aiding in q
manner the prosecution Of ST
nth claims within two years after leavi
of the Government Service"
lis