Evening star., 1936-12-06
TREASURY CHECKS
INCOME TAXES Of
$4,000 EMPLOYEES
Sweeping Order Calls for
Report by Jan. | on All
Payments.
EXTENSION OF PROBE
is SPECULATED UPON
Information Sought by Officials Is
in Addition to Routine Pay
Roll Data.

Sharp check on the income tax
returns of 10000 employees of TIE
Treasury Department for the past
flve years has been launched, it was
learned last night, under authority
OF the 1886 revenue act.
In a sweeping order to every tndi-
vidual on the Treasury pay roll, here
or anywhere in the world, Secretary
OF the Treasury Morgenthau has
called for an official report to be
returned on or before January /.
The order is in the form OF
single memeographed sheet. or ules-
tionnaire with only few very pointed,
and personal questions.
Although the purpose is not offici-
ally outlined in the brief form, the
new move Is understood to be in the
nature OF a wholesale check-up on
the huge Treasury pay roll, to deter
mine the extent of income tax re.
turns. payment of taxes or possible
collection of back taxes.
Each Treasury employe is called on
to furnish the following information:
4'dAAN aAO dA0lCOos
Whether he filed an income tax re.
turn on each of the past five years.
If he filed an income tax return. in
what collection district was it filed?
If he did not file an income tax re-
turn. what was the individuals total
gross income for the past five years?
Deductions in the case Of single per-
sons are now $1,000, and in the case
of married persons s2.500, while s4oo
Is allowed for each child.
Extension Speculated Upon.
So far as could be learned, the ques-
tionnaire at present is being distrib-
uted only to Treasury Department en-
ployes. 1t is understood to be in addi.
ton to the regular information returns
filed by personnel officers of the Gov
eminent with the Bureau of Internal
Revenue.
Whether other departments or estab-
lishments mean to follow the lead Of
the Secretary of the Treasury in in
stituting such a sweeping probe was
question of lively interest aroused by
the Treasury sheet. The matter was
subject of animated conversation in
thousands of homes and Offices last
night. and there was much conjecture
as to how far the movement may lead.
You're going to get questionnaire
soon that you won't like" one in
formed person told another who had
not yet received his.
The Treasury went forward with
this probe. it was understood. under
authority of section lat of the reve-
nue. act of 1886. entitled information
at source" Under this section officers
of the United States are required to
report to the commissioner of internal
revenue the salary paid to employees.
Information has been collected at
source" for years in various ways by
the Government from corporations
individuals, and others making pay
ment to employees, stockholders, etc.
Various forms are provided for such
information"
Since the passage of the revenue
act of 1896, it was learned last night.
every department and independent
establishment of the Government has
been ordered to file information re-.
turns with the commissioner of in-
ternal revenue. Usually this is in the
form of pay roll information sub
mitted in the form required by the
commissioner Of internal revenue.
Income tax returns will be due
on or before March IS, next year. for
the present calendar year, 1886. Gov
ernment people throughout the Fed
eral establishment will find their
(See TAX. Page A-l5)