The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-01-23
BEGIN NOW on YOUR
INCOME TAXF|CURES
Collector Milton A. Miller Says "Do
Not Wait For New Law to be
Passed"

The big income tax drive OF 1919 (,
is now under way and every prepara
tion is being made to handle the lar |
gest collection in the history of in
come tax. Il am not waiting for the
final passage of the new revenue bill
by Congress said Collertor Milton
A. Miller today. nor for the new
regulations and blank forms to be
issued. To get this big tax in and
get it accurate and complete, | urge
that we all begin now"
The Income Tax obligations i'm
posed by the old laws as we'll as the
measure now in Congress, consist of
two distinct operations. One is to
file return or statement of all items
Of income and items of deductions
allowable by law and to do this with
in the period named in the law. The
other is, to pay the tax if any is due.
Neither of these obligations can be
met without a carefdl review of in
come and expenditures for the tax
year. That is the big job right now,
and that Is why | say the Income Tax
Drive is already under way. Every
where the pencil is busy. The old
year is done; all its fruits are
CLEANED; and every. person who Jared
well, or earned good competence
must analyze his own case in cold
figures.
When the new Bill is enacted into
law, | will have the proper return
forms distributed throughout the
District and everybody will be in
formed of the date when the sworn
statement or return must be filed.
1t is my plan to send my men out to
central locations, and to have them
travel through the District aiding
taxpayers in the preparation of the
returns and to deciding doubtful
points. We will go right to the
people with the Income Tax, and with
the cooperation which the public can
turns will be filed by everybody who
comes under the laws provisions, the
right taxes will be paid, and the dis
trict will have done its full patriotic
duty toward the Governments sup
port.
Meanwhile, let me say again, there
t. Jnln 10
of figures. Anything that Congress
does now will not affect the amount
of a persons earnings for 1918. Let
us avoid the beiated throwing to-
gether of figures that may hit or miss
Guesses cannot be accepted as the
basis of taxation. 1t is clearly the
duty of every person to compile cor
rect figures and ascertain whether
his income for 1918 was sufficient tc
make necessary sworn statement
The year 1918 was banner yeal
for salaries and wages, and the liigl
war prices brought unusual profits tC
the average small tradesman and t(
the farmer. The opinion in Washing
ton is that million citizens an(
residents will make this year theil
first income tax returns.
All signs indicate that the income
tax this year will reach nearly ever!
working man and woman, and nearl!
every merchant, shop keeper ant
farmer. Not all will have to pay thu
tax, but nearly all will be obliged t
make a sworn statement of the year.
income. l am therefore advising
every unmarried person who earned
100000 or over during the yea
1918, and every married person, wh
earned 100000, to sharpen hi
pencil and figure out how he stands
He must ascertain accurately nj
gross income from all sources
There's his salary or wages, includ
ing overtime pay and any bonus re
ceived as additional compensation
A married person having childre
under eighteen who are working
should include the earnings Of sue
children.
II he sold any property at a profi
the gain must be computed and II
cluded In gross income. If he rente
any property to other persons, tn
total rents received In the year mus
be ascertained, and from that fgur
a deduction may be taken for take
paid on rented property, the nece'
sary minor repairs, fire insurance
any interest he may have paid
mortgage, and a reasonable allowant
for annual wear and tear of the rem
ed property. The balance is include
in gross income for the year.
Interest on bank deposits, wheth'
withdrawn or added to his ban
balances, must be included In a
calculations of income. Bond inte
est receieved during the year mu
also be included, except interest
municipal, county or state bond
Interest on United States Bonds ne'
not be included by the ordinary boz
holder who purchased small amount
Holders of large amounts of Liber
bonds, however, should ask the