Evening star., 1935-04-25
70 Already Sued for Failure
to File Personal Prop.
erty Returns.
RESIDENTS ALSO LIABLE
FOR HEAVY PENALTIES
Additional Cases Will Be Filed
as Rapidly as Possible,
C. A. Russell Says.

Three thousand-odd residents Of the
District face the prospect of being
hailed into court in mandamus suits
for failure to file with the District
government personal property tax re-
turns due last July.
This warning came today from the
Commissioners. who supported their
warning with direct action, in filing
at District Supreme Court mandamus
suits against approximately 10 persons.
The suits require the residents to
show cause why they should not be
compelled to file the returns. The
actions are returnable before the court
May IS.
Many thousands of dollars" in tax
payments are at stake in the con-
templated 5000 additional cases. ac-
cording to Charles A. Russell. deputy
assessor in charge of personal property
taxes.
Heavy Penalties Attached.
Residents who are found liable for
personal property tax payments face
assessment of heavy additional sums
for their delinquency. First. unless
they can convince the court there Is
no reason for them to file returns,
they will have to pay fee of sll to
cover the mandamus action. Then
20 per cent penalty will be added for
failure to file returns on time. and
they will be assessed / per cent per
month in addition on their tax bills.
dating back to last October. The
first installment of personal property
taxes is due in September, and. un-
der the law. the per cent tax begins
the next month.
Under the law. all residents are re-
quired to file returns even though the
amount of their personal holdings is
below the exemption. If the delln-
quent residents hasten now to file re-
turns, this will serve to end the man
damus suits, if the action is taken be-
fore the court cases are completed.
1 Russell said additional cases will
be filed in court as rapidly as the
necessary data can be compiled and
handled by the corporation counsel's
| office. The drive to compel the filing
Of returns which have not yet come
in is being made under the direct
orders of the Commissioners.
Many Refunds Made.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed today
that District taxpayers last year paid
about $4,000 more into the treasury
of the city than the Law required.
More than 80 per cert of the sum
was returned. according to William
| P. Richards. assessor This was due
sioners ordered that notices of over
payments and enormously paid taxes
should be sent out promptly when
discovered. Richards recommended
this step.
Prior to 1927 taxpayers we're more
or less allowed to find their own mis-
takes and make claims for refunds.
| Richards told the Commissioners,
however, the District should take the
initiative and urge them to come in;
that the District had no desire to
let such refunds fall into default.
When a question was raised today
on mistakes in overpayments, Auditor
Daniel j. Donovan noted that S112.-
200 in real and personal property
taxes exceeded the levies in the past
fiscal year. This indicates that over
payments last year totaled some
$4,000, if only 80 per cent of the
sum was refunded. And to this should
be added $4,000 more in overpayments
on special assessments and $4,000 in
water rents.
In the fiscal year 1888 the over
payment refunds for real and per-
sonal property amounted to $1,000,
and in 1882 to $39,100. In 1927 the
sum refunded was S44,800.