Evening star., 1923-09-03
j. s. TAX RETURNS
TAKE DROP HERE
District, Like Rest of Nation,
Below Last Year in
Payments.

Although the governments tax col
lections dropped off more than half
a billion during the fiscal year endeu
June 80. 1928, according to q prelim-
mary statement Of returns made pub
lie today. Commissioner Blair of in
ternal revenue pointed out that the
revenue act Of 1881, although re-
ducing the rates In force. had re-
suited in an actual increase in the
revenue for the two periods for
which the collections were male
under the new law.
The net decrease for the year. re-
suited from the difference between
1922. when collections totaled 49,
1s7.451.0s3. and 1928. when collections
totaled s2.621. .745.227.57.
The District of Columbia showed
a sharp decline, total revenue for
1923 being $1o,s15.54697. as compared
with $17,S54,6S6.16 for 1922.
Income Tax Drop.
For some reason as yet unaccounted
for, the District Of Columbia reversed
itself completely on showing of
income and profits taxes. Whereas
last year the District was the only
one of all states and territories
showing an increase in payment Of
income and excess profits taxes. with
an increase of 81 per cent over 1921.
This year the District slid back to
a decrease of 26 per cent.
Income and profits taxes for the
District for the three years were as
follows: 1921, ss,054.914.26; 1922, $1o.521.-
2S6.o4: 1923. s7.7S3. .soO.53.
Commissioner Blair attributed the
decrease in revenue from income and
profits taxes for the first half of the
fiscal year 1923 principally ito the
depression of business in 1921 and
to some extent to changes in the
law"
Decrease of Nation.
The nationwide collections from
$1,689. .177,409.3S as compared with
s2,0S6,918.464.S5 in 1922.
In spite of this net decrease, how
ever, the commissioner points out
that the new tax legislation passed
by the Harding administration had
turned the tide of reduced returns
to an increase, as indicated in the
1922, during which the new legisla-
tion was in effect, and paid through
the government windows in March
and June of 1928.
Tax payments for March. 1923. the
commissioner points out, were $780,
6S4.211.31, as compared with $685.
898,430.75 for March, 1922 For June,
1928, he shows further, receipts were
$352.986, 1894, as compared with
$30O.194,9s7.S6 in June. 1922.
Cost OF Collections.
1t cost the government $1.40 to COL
lect each 500 of revenue in the last
fiscal year, while in the fiscal year
1922 the collection cost averaged
SLOT Mr. Blair explained that the
approximately as much last year to
make collections as 1t had in 1922. at
the same time obtaining less revenue.
Another factor contributing to the
increase, he added, was the expendi-
ture by the internal revenue bureau
of $18,000.000 last year in auditing
income tax returns of the year 1917
to 1921 inclusive.
Taxes on automobiles, trucks and
accessories last year made the largest
jump over the previous year of the
products of any taxed industry. APP
from that source as against $105,000,-
600 the year previous.
Tobacco Tax Increase.
Taxes on tobacco and tobacco prod
ucts increased from $270,75s,o 900 to
$309, 900. Throughout other items
of miscellaneous taxes, however, de-
creases predominated. although in
most instances the drop was small.
New York. leading all states last
year in total taxes paid. contributed
revenue amounting to $664,796,1 lis, or
almost one-fourth Of the total for
all states. Pennsylvania was second,
with $247,120.690. and Illinois third,
with $215,955.931. Alaska remitted
the smallest amount, $162,404.
Only four states and the Philippine
Islands showed an increase in total
payments last year as compared with
the preceding twelve months. New
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