The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-02-28
TAxD0DGING PUT AS CRIME
IN EYE OF UNCLE SAM
WARNING BY OFFICIALS
Do Not Attemptto Escape Paying
{ Your Income Assessment to
Government
. Don't try to be taxdodger. Uncle

Don't try to be taxdodger. Uncle
Sam will get you anyway.
How does Uncle Sam deal with tax
dodgers? This inquiry, which was
prompted by the severe penalties il
the new revenue bill, has brought
from Commissioner of Inierna; Rev.
enue. Daniel c.. Roper, frank state.
ment as to the internal revenue bu-
reau's attitude toward those who at
tempt to evade taxation.
ANY person who deliberately con.
Iceals tax liability, or who falsifies a
return in orderto reduce or evade any
internal revenue tax, or who deliber-
ateiy abets such concealment or fraud
finds arrayed against him the entire
strength of the bureau pressing for the
full civil and criminal penalties. That
is the attitude toward the tax
dodger expressed in one sentence
whether he is moonshiner, a
-stealthy trafficker in habit forming
drugs, or juggler of income figures, a
delinquent in making the sworn re4
eiS ~" iCQali vi Il revenue
violater of any other kind, the bureau
is charged with the duty of hunt
ing him out and exacting the full
punishment provided by law.
Where Help Will Be Extended. :
Toward the taxpayer, who means
to comply with the internal revenue
laws, fully and honestly, the bureau
extends helping hand Co. operation
With the taxpayer is our watchword
and. objective
S"Thesc two contrasts-the teeth of
the law for the tax dodger and the
yiolater, and the aid of every lawful
agency for the voluntary taxpayer
are policies necessary to the ad-
ministration of tax laws under mod
ern conditions.
"One of the most difficult of the
many problems in tax collecting is to
classify those who fail to fulfil the
obligations imposed by law The bu-
reau is obliged to maintain large
staff and TO use the utmost discretion
N properly labelling these cases. Even
handed justice is a heavy responsible
ity, and only through careful siftings
can delinquents be classified.
Three Distinct Glasses.
There are three distinct classes of
delinquency. with which we have to
deal. First, the taxpayer who had
reasonable cause, brought about by
exceptional conditionsj beyond his
control; secondly, the fellow who
didn't look up or didn't realize his
obligations; and thirdly, the person
who wilfully eyaded compliance with
the law.
AS for the man who shows AREA
sona6le cause within certain lines
established by the bureau, no penal
ties are asserted All other delin-
quents are more carefully investigated
before prosecuting is begun Many of
these -offenses are caused by ignor-
ance and negligence. Failure to make
reports required by law may in some
cases warrant severe penalty, as
where the delinquent continues his de-
liquency after being warned of the
penalty for failure to make return.
However, if the delinquent takes inn
mediate corrective action. AID it is
clearly established through .investiga-
tion that he didn't wilfully Violate the
law, the bureau allows him to comp
romise his liability to specific pen
atty by rendering nominal sum of
In such instances the money
is not really in compromise but as
sessed to impress the taxpayer against
future violations.
There Is No Relief.
= sae
romise, for the man who wilfully
avades, wiIfully neglects, or wilfully
falsifies. He is classed with other
law breakers in the eyes of the bu-'
reau, and is vigorously prosecuted in
the courts. No other course is open
to the bureau, in meeting fairly and
squarely the demand of the viking
tax payer. IT will-the other man
must" There is solemn responsible
ity thus existing between the honest
taxpayer and the bureau to locate, to
punish the, dishonest tax dogger.
For a decade the drift of federal
taxation has been from the indirect tax
toward direct payment of each citizen
and resident of his just share of the
cost of government. Gradually the
circle of direct taxpayers has been
increased, and under the new rev.
enue law the extension will include
hundreds of thousands who never be-
fore filed declarations with the gov.
eminent
1--WE are therefore now come to an
other milestone in national progress.
We approach a new test of the sound
ness of American ideals of a govern
ment of. by and for the people. The
test is whether our wonderful victory
of liberty is worth the. cost as APP
portiored to>the private pocket book
by the peoples representatives.