Evening star., 1944-02-20
Take It Easy, Mr.. Taxpayer
By Harold B. Rogers.

LUKE IL easy lake IL easy, as the
song goes. Just one step after another.
That's the best way to work out your
complicated income tax return. say the
experts in the local Office Of deputy
collector OF internal revenue.
But don't put 1t of too long. they
advise, or you may get the shock of your
lives, to find you owe lot more tax
than you thought. Many people are get
ting this shock.
On the other hand, you may find, to
your surprise, that Uncle Sam owes you
refund. Treasury officials estimate
about one-thjrd of the people will get
refunds. At any rate, it's a relief to
know where you stand, instead of being
In a state of suspended anxiety.
Admittedly, the complicated problems
on the return are the worst ever per-
petrated on the taxpayer That's be-
cause OF wartime taxes and the switch
over from paying year behind to "pay
as you 60" The storm of protest has
blown so high that Congress promises
it will never be this bad again-simpli-
f1cation is on the way for March, 1945-
>ill long way off.
But IN the meantime, out of long ex-
pertence with thousands of troubled
people so far, local Federal experts offer
some practical suggestions to help the
average puzzled taxpayer now.
First aid In this direction is the sample
income tax return 1040 reproduced
herewith as model for those who wish
to use 1t. Prepared, checked, double
checked and triple-checked by revenue
experts, this form is typical example
OF a married man with two children.
It's comparatively simple case and it
gives the key to the mystery of how to
work return. But before starting to
fill it out, it's helpful to get your facts
and figures together.
Figures You Need.
l. Your social security number. It's
surprising how many people forget that.
The number is to help identify the tax
payer, but has no other relation to the
social security system.
2. Total wages and other pay earned
In 1943-from the receipt (on Form
W-2) given you by your employer-if
you're employed
3. Total income tax and victory tax
withheld from your wages in 1943-
from the same receipt.
4. The total amount of your 1912 in
come tax-from the statement ton
Form 1l25) mailed to you by the COL
lector of internal revenue. Don't forget
to look in the envelope including in
come tax forms mailed<to you by the
collector. The little 1125 form still may
be inside, overlooked. If you failed to
get this form, don't write to the col
lector for one. It's too late. Look up
the figures on the duplicate of your
1912 tax return which you probably
kept-or should have.
5. The amount you paid on your
1912 income tax in March and June
also from the collectors statement 1925
6. The amount you paid, if any, in
September or December, 1943, on
declaration of estimated tax'-from
Cancelled checks, receipts, etc, or from
people have wasted hours of their time
by standing in line at the deputy COL
lectors office, waiting for assistance,
only to find that they had forgotten
to bring along their figures on their
1912 income tax, and what they paid
during the calendar year 1943. They
have had to 90 back home and work
ont hoiY bao
back to the line and stand for hours
longer.
7. The amount Of any other taxable
income (besides wages and other pay)
you had in 1943, such as interest, divi-
dends and annuities-from passbooks,
personal records or other sources.
And in Addition.
The above constitute the key figures
needed for either the short form 1O40A
or the long form 1040. However, if you
are using the long form you may also
need additional figures, such as the
following:
l. An itemized list of the deductions
you claim for contributions, interest,
taxes, including District, Virginia or
Maryland levies, casualties and medical
expenses.
2. Detailed figures on income from
rents, royalties, the sale or exchange
OF securities and other property, profit
and loss from business or profession,
and some other income.
The above list covers the major items
needed by the average taxpayer in Wash
ington and vicinity. But there are some
taxpayers who will need still other spe-
cialized information such as credits on
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