Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-03-06
Concerning the Income Tax.

Dear Mr.. Editor-You will have beer
apprised from the office of the Collector
of Internal Revenue of the dates or
which will be in your town and coun'
ty for the purpose of serving such tax.
payers as may desire aid and informa'
ton in the preparation Of their income
tax returns for the year 1918.
Owing TO the very limited time be-
| tween the date of the Revenue Act oi
1918" Ito be made effective by Presi-
dent Wilson's signature theretol and
March 18th, next, by which date all re-
turns must be in to escape penalty, il
is absolutely necessary that such tax
payer be prepared to present his case
as clearly andsconcisely as possible and
with the consumption Of as little time
as possible. When il is considered that
there will be more than 10000 West
Virginia persons TO file Income Tax re-
turns within the three weeks, and that
can only devote about week to each
one OF the counties in my zone, the ne
cessty for brief, but comprehensive in
terviews becomes apparent
| will therefore esteem il a great ia
vor if you wlli urge your readers to
come prepared with data in written form
and not trusting to their memory or try
ing to carry the necessary figures in
their heads.
If they will carefully prepare the
work sheet which the 1918 income tax
return carries this time, the work sheet
TO be copy of the return that each tax
prayer retains, it will be very easy and
quick in figuring the amount Of tax tho
taxpayer owes his government.
II is the desire of the Internal Reye-
niue Department that each taxpayer be
treated with courteous consideration
and that all the desired aid be extended
to them, but the e%igencies of the case
seem to demand the foregoing explana-
tion that one, taxpayer must not take
up the time OF another.
! II the taxpayer is a merchant, il will
be necessary for the following figures
to be brought me to fill up return, or
for me to decide whether or not il will
be necessary for him TO make and rem
der return:
His total sales for the IL months OF
1918.
His total purchases for the II months
of 1918.
His inventory of stock on Januars /
1918.
His inventory of stock on December
81, 91S.
N, his running or operating ex-
pens ) for the year of 1918, and these
expenses must be itemized. i. CLERK
hire, rent paid, fire insurance on the
stock, freight and drayage, advertising.
telephone, etc.
II the taxpayer is a farmer, il vii!
be necessary for me to have his gross
sales of cattle and farm products. J
want to know his gross income from
these sales-that is, what his cattle that
he sold in 1918 brought; il he sole
wheat, corn, hay, poultry. potatoes, etc.
what they brought when he sold them
Then as a deduction from his gross in
come, | need to know what the original
cost Of those cattle was; what his ex-
penses on the farm amounted to, !. e.
his labor bills, his blacksmith bills, his
seed and fertilizer bills. his veterinary
bills, his repair bills. Also bring the
insurable value Of his farm buildings
farm machinery, etc.
II the taxpayer is professional man,
doctor, attorney, dentist, etc, ! need TO
know his gross income for 1918, and his
deductions will consist Of his operating
or running expenses.
Taxpayers should bring memorandum
OF amounts paid for premium on fire in
surance, taxes, and the amount Of in
terest paid on borrowed money. Also
should bring data showing their contri-
buttons made within 1918 10 churches,
united war work fund, second Red
Cross drive, etc.
Respectfully,
WIN. CAMPBELL,