Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1920-03-18
MANY FAIL TO PAY
INITIAL INCOME TAX

Every citizen Of Louisiana who
did not pay taxes on a taxable in
come by midnight Monday is a delin.
] quent, and is subject to a fine OF
$1,000 or less, in the discretion OF the
collector Of internal revenue. The
delinquent roundup started Tuesday
morning.
At midnight Monday Louisiana
was 40 per cent behind in payments
Of income taxation and its citizens
owed the United States government
| in the neighborhood Of 100000.
Returns this year have been most
disappointing, especially the business
of the collectors office on the last
day Of grace. Last year, between 9
a. m. and midnight on the final day
for payment, more than S5,O00O0O
rolled into the collector. This year q
collections on the final day totalled
less than $S,50O,000. Delinquency
last year was 20 per cent; this year
it is 40 per cent.
Although the office Of the Collec-
tor was kept open Saturday and Mon
day until midnight, for the accom-
mediation Of the public, and a big
force Of deputies was on hand, the
crowds were small, and when mid
night came but a handful Of people
were the custom house paying their
taxes.
81 cannot understand the delin-
quency this year," said Mr.. Fontenot.
''The people were informed by every
possible means Of publicity-through
countless newspaper articles, posters,
letters, moving pictures, etc.-that
there would be no extension this year
and were given the most carefully
prepared information and advice on
each technical point. They also have
been warned that this year the fed
eTal government would not be so len
lent as it was last year.
Probably the war Spirit had some
influence last year on the better
showing that was made. At that time
the slogan THE war is won, now let's
pay for it, reused the people to a
sense of their duty. This year many
have neglected that duty.
"It is unfortunate, as the tax must
be paid in the end, and a delinquent
will be obliged to pay penalty also
for his carelessness. The amount of
the fine lies in the discretion of the
collector, and must be paid with the
first quS8terly payment"
To Round Up Delinquents
This is what happened to delin-
quents Tuesday:
First, letter will be received mott
flying the delinquent to appear at
the collectors office within ten days,
bringing all books and papers neces-
sary to prove what income he. re-
ceived during 1919, and requiring
him to, give reasons why he did not
settle by March Is. A second warm
ing will come if the delinquent fails
to appear within the specified time.
After this, if no return is made,
the collector will assess a return and
the delinquent will be advised to sign
it. If he refuses the collector will
issue warrant of distraint for the
collection, of the tax cue. No court
in the nation has the power to issue
an injunction against the collection
Of the amount named in this war
rant.
Then if the delinquent does not
pay the tax will be collected through
the courts. If a property owner, the
property will be levied upon. If the
delinquent possesses any tangible
property, bank account, business,
of monetary value, it will
be attached. In the case of the
wage-earner, his salary will be gar
1isheed.
"Many who made returns last
year." said Mr.. Foptenot, "failed to
make returns this year. These will
be among the first to be investigated.
The wage-earners make up the large
majority of the delinquents. 1t is
absurd for them to try to conceal
heir incomes if they have been of a
,axable amount, as all employers |
lave filed with Washington the exact |
amounts paid to each man in their
employ during 1919. Although the
tax collected this year is less than it
was last, am convinced the people
have earned more. There has been
4 vast increase in business and wages
have gone up. This money will have
- &bo 1avry -