The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-03-26
Gains for 1919 Must Be Figured
Under U. S. LaW-ReturnS
Due March IS.
SALE PROFITS TAXABLE.
Necessary Farm Expenses May Be
Oeducted-Special Form for Farm
lncome-Cash or Accrual
Basis for Computing.

uluSl inquire up MS net income Tor 1919,
and if the farm or business income
plus his other income was sufficient to
require an income tax return a com
plete return must be filed with the col
lector Of internal revenue by March 10.
A farmer should ascertain the gross
income of his farm by computing all
gains derived from the sale or ex-
change Of his products, whether pro-
duced on the farm or purchased and
reSOld.
Farm Expenses.
From his gross income a farmer is
allowed to charge off all of his neces-
sary expenses in the conduct Of the
farm during the year. These include
costs Of planting, cultivating, harvest
ing and marketing. In addition to
these costs he may deduct money spent
for ordinary farm tools of short life
bought during the year, such as shOv-
els, rakeS, etc. Also, the cost of feed
purchased for his live stock may be
treated as an expense in SO far as his
cost represents actual outlay, but the
value of his OWL products fed to ami
mails is not a deductible item.
Other farm expenses allowable are
the cost of minor repairs on buildings
tbnt not the dwelling house), on fences,
wagons and farm machinery also bills
paid for horseshoeing. stock powders.
rock Golf cnpvi.n. IF vntn,innrr inSpr-
ance Except IN dwelling housed, gaso-
line for operating power and sundry
other expenses which were paid for in
cash.
AS to hired help. all the productive
labor is a deductible expense but the
wages of household servants, or help
hired to improve the farm, as in tree
planting, ditching, etc. cannot be
claimed against earnings. A farmer is
not allowed to claim a salary for him
self or members Of his family who
work on the farm.
Wear and Tear.
Purchase of farm machinery, wag-
OnS work animals, etc, also the cost
Of construction or extension Of build
iags, silos. fencing. etc, should be con
eidered additional investments in the
farm and are not proper deductions
against income.
a reasonable allowance may be
claimed for wear and tear on farm
buildings Except the farmhOuse),
fences. machinery. work animals, way
0ns tanks, windmilk and other farm
equipment which is used in the CON
duct Of the farm.
AS to autos and tractors, the 0 Of
these Is o an expense. although the
cost of their upkeep is an allowable
deduction, II the machines are used ex-
clusively for farm purposes and not
for pleasure. Also. in such cases, a de-
ductiOn for wear and tear is allowed.
Farm Losses.
The loss Of a growing crop is not q
proper deduction from income, mas
much as the value of the crop had not
been taken into gross income. The
loss Of a building or Of machinery
through storm. lightning. flood. etc, is
an allowable deduction. but are should
be used to ascertain the correct loss
sustained, as restricted by income tax
regulations.
No deduction Is allowed In the case
Of loss Of animals raised on the farm,
hut q loss is deductibls from gross In
come IL the animals had been pur-
chased for draft or breeding purposes.
Shrinkage In weight or value Of farm
products held for favorable market
prices annOt be deducted as a loss, for
the reasOn that when such products
are sold the shrinkage will be reflected
in the selling price.
Sale Of Farms and Land.
The value Of agricultural lands has
been jumping during the past few
years, and during 1919 many owners
sold out part or all Of their lands at
big profits. All such gains constitute
income and must he taken into the net
income for the year.
Any person who sold part Of a farm
or ranch, or part Of a parcel Of land,
must also show any gains realized by
the sale.
u HICtltOu VI u8OlluH &0luS anu
losses on such transactions Is pre-
scribed in the Income Tax regulations.
copies Of which may be secured from
Internal Revenue Collectors.
Forms for Returns.
The Internal Revenue Bureau has
issued an improved Form 1O4OF for
the use Of farmers. This form, to-
gether with Form 1O4OA or 1910, will
give the farmer explicit information
as to how TO properly figure his net
income for 1919.
There are two methods OF figuring q
farmers income tax return this year
He may make his return on the basis
of the difference between the money
and goods received for his products
and the cash paid out for actual allow
able farm expenses within the year.
Or he may make his return on the ac-
crnal basis, which means computing
the receipts and expenses that pertain
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