White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-04-25
How Do | Pay H9 When Do 1
Pau And Where Does 1t Go?

I1NIN DONO ~ NV
IS not yours until after the deadllne,
you must pay a tax. But you are con-
sidered the owner If you have posses
sion under conditional sales con-
,ract.
@: Fair enough. But understand
we're going to have to use these dnky
aren't they, with a
hole in the middle?
A: You don't have to use them
They're merely for your convenience.
They save you money.
@: How do you mean?
A: Well, if you make q purchase OF
so cents, you pay one cent tax, and
don't have to use a token. You pay just
2 per cent. But if the article costs Al
cents, you pay 2.13 per cent when you
part with a penny for tax.
@: But doesn't it ever work the other
way?
A: Certainly. If you pay one cent
tax on SO cent article, you pay only
.89 instead of per cent.
@: That's nice. Does the percentage
run higher when an article is cheaper?
A: Yes, it does. For example, if the
purchase cost 10 cents, it would be bet
ter to give the salesman token, which
is worth just 18th OF a cent. II you
give him penny instead OF a token
you pay 10 per cent tax
q: But where can buy these to-
kens?
A: The banks will distribute them
to the retailers, and the retailers will
have them ready for you by May l..
@: Very efficient. I understand, how
ever that my pockets will be weight
ed down with tax tokens.
A: Well, they weigh less than l-2Oth
of an ounce.
@: Yes, but If you have enough of
them -.
A: Here's the secret. Suppose the
tax on an article amounted to 4-5ths
of cent. You don't have to give the
sales girl four tokens. Give her penny
and she'll give you one token. If you
work it right, you probably won't need
to carry more than three or four to-
kens at time. These will weigh less
than 18th of an ounce.
r @: Say, if I understand the matter
clearly, as merchant owe the state
the money for each sale whether
collect from the buyer or not, and I'm
supposed to collect from the buyer?
A.: That's absolutely correct. You've
got to pay the state for the sales you
make.
@: 1t seems to me I heard about a
cigarette tax too?
A: Uh huh. The rate Is 1-20th OF
a cent for each cigarette if they don't
cost more than one cent apiece. More
expensive cigarettes are taxed at 10
per cent of the intended retail sales
price.
@: How do pay this tax?
A: Simple. Tax stamps come in de-
nominations of either one-half, one
or two and one-half cents. These
stamps must be affixed to all packages
in stock by May /.
@: Then I merely pay the retailer
the price of the cigarettes which in.
cludes the cost of the stamp?
That's right.
@: So far this works out fine. But
own a little gum vending machine
How on earth can I collect tax from
the consumer? Do I have to stand ou
by the machine with tin cup In my
hand?
A: Not at all Make an application
to the Tax Commission for prepayment
of your sales tax If they find that i
is impracticable for you to collect from
the purchaser, they probably will lie
you pay in advance.
q: Is this all 1 have to do?
A: No, if the Commission grants you
the privilege, you must furnish a bons
to secure payment of the tax and prin
a notice on the vending machine tina
the tax has been paid in advance.
q: Say, on the whole, this retail
sales tax seems to be a pretty goo
way of collecting the revenue needle
to run the government. Can countie
and cities levy this kind of tax, too?
A: Absolutely not! In this state tn
law provides that there can be onl
one retail sales tax as the state de
fines it. And the state collects 1t.
@: Is there anything else I ough
to know about this business?
A: Well, If there's anything else 20
want to find out about, you'd bette
write the State Tax Commission 9
Olympia, or better yet, see the neares
local branch office I'm out Of breath