The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-05
INCOME TAX TINE
HAS AGAIN ARRIVED
This Time It Hits Most PeO-
pie and It Hits Them
Hard.


The time has come for John NJ. Gold
bonds and John D. smithkins-both
fictional characters but equally we'll
known In the United States-again IL
pay their income taxes. John M. will
forward to the Collector Of Internal
Revenue check for S7O3,03O. His net
income for 1918 was $4,000 Smith
kins will pass the collector $50. His
net income was $500. Both are emf.
nently respectable married men.
This Is an illustration OF the in.
come tax provisions Of the new reve-
nue. bin THE income tax is no long.
er a rich mans tax is a truthful but
not a new saying. Smithkins, how.
ever, after contributing his just quota
TO the government will have left con
siderably larger portion Of his income
than Goldbonds.
The levy touches the pocket.book Of
every person OF moderate means in
the United States, but is so graduated
that the GoIdbonds and the Smithkins
each pay according to their incdme.
Last year there were filed up to June
80, 2,319,929 returns of income Of less
than $4,000. The tax assessed on these
incomes was S22, 1896, 2624O. The mum.
Der OF returns filed of incomes Of more
than $4,000 was 665,623, the tax on
which was $592,613,241.12. Speaking
for themselves, these figures offer con.
vincing proof OF the equitable distribu-
ton Of the tax burden.
The estimated revenue to be collect
ed under the new revenue bill is So
0O0,0O0,000. Returns are required on
or before March Is of every single
person whose net income was $1,000
or more and Of every married person
whose net income was $4,000 or more.
The tax is assessed on net income in
excess Of these amounts.
In making out his income tax re-
turn, John NJ. Goldbonds will deduct
first his personal exemption of $4,000
allowed married man. On the first
$4,000 Of his remaining income Of $685.
900 he will pay a normal tax of 6 per
cent, or $240. On his income in eX.
cess of his exemption and first $4,000
'of income, he will pay normal tax Of
10 per cent, or Sis, 2S0.
In addition he is required to pay a
surtax beginning at per cent. on the
amount Of his income between 5000
and $4,000 and increasing by steps Of
/ per cent. for each $4,000 Of his net
income up to and including 4S per
cent. on net income in excess Of $685..
900 and not over 100000. From this
point the rates are as follows: 50 per
cent, on his net income in excess OF
100000 and not over $4,000; IS
per cent. on net income in excess Of
$4,000 andln over 100000; 60 per
cent. on net income in excess Of $780,.
900 and not over $500, 900; So per cent.
on net income in excess Of 100000,
and not over 100000 and 81 per cent.
on the amount Of his net income be.
tween $4,000 and $1,00o,OO0.
John NJ. pays normal tax Of $119,-
$40 and surtax Of $5S3,51O. Smith.
kins doesn't have to bother about the
intricacies Of the surtax which applies
only to incomes in excess of $1,000.
Deducting his exemption Of $4,000, he
pays 6 per cent. on $500.
It is assumed that neither Smith.
kins nor Goldbonds have dependents,
other than wife. The new revenue
bill allows an additional exemption Of
5000 for each person dependent upon
the taxpayer for chief support, II such
person is under eighteen years Of age
or incapable Of self-support,
At their option Goldbonds and
Smithkins may pay their tax in full at
the time Of filing their returns, on or
before March is, or in four install.
ments, on or before March Is, on or
before June Is, on or before Septem-
her is and on or before December Is.
The penalty for failure to make re.
turn is fine of not mora than $1,000,
and an additional assessment Of SIS
per cent. of the amount due, For
"wilfully refusing" to make return
the penalty is fine of not more than
$4,000 or imprisonment for not more
than one year or both. A similar pen.
atty is provided for making false OF
fraudulent return, together with an
added assessment Of so per cent. of
the amount due.
The Commissioner of Internal Rev.
enue, Daniel Q. Roper, however, is Civ.
ing himself no uneasiness concerning
the failure of Goldbonds or Smithkins
to file their return and pay the tax OF.
time.
Experience has proved that the
great majority of the American people
paystheir taxes cheerfully and willing
ly,St said Commissioner Roper. "ot
course we have the. delinquent and to
him, IN justice to those who fully com.
ply with the law, no consideration can
beigiven. The Bureau has at its com
mand innumerable sources Of infor
nation that will disclose tax liability.
When the tax dodger is discovered
as he will be-he will be made to pay
the full penalties Of the law"
Forms for filing income tax returns