Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-31
OFFICIAL INFORMATION AS
TO GOVERNMENT
REQUIREMENTS
REACHES ALMOST EVERYONE
Every Unmarried Person Earn
ing $1,000 or Over and Ev-
very Married Man Earn
In $1,000 or Over

now under way, ana every preparation
II being made to handle the largest
collection in teh history Of Income
Tax. II am not waiting for the final
passage Of the new Revenue Bill by
Congress-" said Collector W. H. l.
Pepperell today, "nor for the new re-
Rulations and blank forms to be Is
sued. To get this big tax in and get
Il accurate and complete, ! urge that
we all begin now."
The income tax obligations impos-
ed by the old laws, as well as the
measure now in Congress, consists OF
two. district operations. One is, to file
return or statement Of all items OF
income and items Of deductions allow
able by law, and to do this within the
period named in the law. The other
II, 10 pay the tax, if any is due.
Neither of these obligations can be
met without a careful review of in
come and expenditure for the tax
year. This is the big job right now,
and that is why l say, the Income
Tax drive is already under way.
Everywhere the pencil is busy. The
old year is. done; all its fruits are
CLEANED; and every person who Jared
well or earned a good competence
must analyze his own case in cold fig-
ures.
When the new bill is enacted into
law, I will have the proper return
forms distributed throughout the Dis
trict, and everybody will be informed
Of the date when the sworn return
must be filed. It is my plan to send
men out to central locations, and to
have them travel through the district,
aiding taxpayers in the preparation Of
the returns and in deciding doubtful
points. We will 60 right to the peo-
pie with the income tax, and with the
cooperation which the public can
give the government men, the returns
viii be fled every body who comes
under the laws provisions, the right
taxes will be paid, and the district
will have done its full patriotic duty
toward the governments support.
Meanwhile, let me say again, there
Is no need Of delaying the prepara-
ton of figures. Anything that Con-
gress does now will not affect the
amount Of a persons earnings for
1918. Let Iis avoid the belated throw
ing together 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
correct figures and ascertain wheth-
or his income for 1918 was sufficient
to make necessarya a swOrR return.
The year 1918 was banner year
for salaries and wages, and the high
wAr prices brought unusual profits to
the average small tradesmani and to
the farmer. The opinion in Washing
ton Is that million citizens and res
idents will make this year their first
income tax returns.
All signs indicate that the income
tax this year will reach nearyl every
working man and woman, and nearly
every merchant, shopkeeper and
farmer. Not all will have to pay the
tax, but nearly all will be obliged to
make sworn statement Of the years
income.
, All signs indicate that the income
tax this year will reach nearly every
working man and woman, and nearly
every merchant, shopkeeper and
farmer. Not all will have to pay the
tax, but nearly all will be obliged to
make sworn statement of the years
income.
] am therefore advising every un-
married person who earned 1000 or
over during the year 1918, and every
married person who, together with
wife or husband, earned $4,000 to
aharpen his pencil and figure out how
he stands.
He must ascertain accurately his
gross income from all sources.
Thepe,s his salary or wages, including
overtime pay any bonus received as
nadftional compensation. A married
psrnon having children under 1S who
are working, should include the earn
fnrs 81 such children.
IL - sold any property at q protit'
tie gain must be computed and IN
clndsd IN gross income. If he rented
nuy property to other persons, the
f1fSl rents received IN the year must
bo nuesrtained. and from that figure
4 Suiuetion may be taken for taxes
rSii On rented property, the neces-
rarv minor repairs, fire insurance
Any interest he may have paid on
- rsrs, and a reasonable allowance
-. rrr1I wear and tear Of the rent