Evening star., 1949-06-01
D. {. Orders Sales Tax
Forms, Begins Par|eys
With Business Groups.
By Jerry O'Leory, Jr.

~1 .~S'y, 80
District businessmen and mer-
chants will be able to pick UP sales
tax applications and certificates
in week or 10 days. in plenty of
time to prepare for the start OF
the 2 per cent levy August l.
Assessor Edward A. Dent said
today that he has ordered thou
sands Of the forms and plans to
make them available as soon as
possible at various points over the
city.
The forms can be picked up at
District police precincts and fire
departments as soon as they be-
come available. officials said.
At the same time. Inspector
Floyd A. Truscott. assistant super
intendent of police. ordered pre-
cinct commanders to survey all
the city's merchants to determine
which ones will be required TO
obtain licenses under the new +
cent cigarette tax act.
Retailers Must Apply.
The order instructed police to
obtain names, addresses and other
information from all places of
business which sell cigarettes,
either over the counter or by
vending machines. The survey is
to be completed by June IA.
Every person whose business
involves retail sales will be re-
quired to apply for certificate OF
registration under the sales tax
measure. He then will have TO
receive the certificate itself These
are the forms now on order. Mr..
Dent declared. He will announce
details of the form distribution
later.
The tax returns themselves, to
be made once a month, will be
made on punchcards that will be
sent to each registered business
man.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Dent announced
10 preliminary schedule Of confer
ences between himself and his tax
authorities with District business
groups. Mr.. Dent. Allan r. Brooke.
who soon will be named head of
the Sales Tax Division, and legal
authorities met today with repre-
sentatives Of the Washington
Hotel Association and the Dis
trict Restaurant Association.
At the meeting in Mr.. Dents
District Building office. the hotel
and restaurant men were to tell
how the sales tax affects them.
Tomorrow. Mr.. Dents assistants
will meet with representatives Of
the National Capital Group OF
Controllers-the fiscal experts Of
the larger businesses In Washing
ton.
On Friday. the tax people will
meet representatives Of the print
ing and graphic arts industry.
Practically every organized blisi-
ness group. including the WASH
ington Board of Trade. will be
given an opportunity to be heard
on the sales tax. Mr.. Dent said.
The meetings sets for this week
are merely the first scheduled.
Follow MARYLAND Example.
In deciding to- meet with the
people most affected by the new
Legislation. Mr.. Dent Is following
the example of the State Of Mary
land. When the sales tax was in
augurated there two years ago.
State Retail Sales Tax Admins
traitor Walter e. Kennedy called in
representatives Of every business
before writing the rules and reg
ulations.
MIR. Dent and his aides plan
to write the multitude of rules
and regulations for administra-
tion Of the District sales tax as
they go along.
He and Mr.. Brooke, who Is
presently assistant administrator |
Of the Income Tax Division. al |
ready are at work on the regula- |
tions with members Of the cor
poration counsel's staf.
The Law imposes . 2 per cent
gross receipts tax on purchases
In retail stores Of practically |
everything except food for home |
consumption. all medicines and
such prosthetic devices as artifi- |
cial limbs. crutches and wheel
chairs. Restaurant checks up to
t1.25 are exempt. So are pur-
chases from / 10 IL cents.
The law imposes q i-cent tax
On purchases from Ii 10 81 cents
and . cents on purchases from
81 cents TO $l.14. The levy then
l cent on each add
tional so cents.