Evening star., 1954-12-29
5000 10 Face
Pay Seizure for
Back Tax Here
New Low Permits
Gurnishment of
Federal Employees
By JONES {. Roper

oy JONES (. Roper
The Internal Revenue Serv-
ice, it was learned today, will
garnishee the wages Of 5000
Federal and city employees here
unless they promptly settle back
income taxes totaling more
than 81 million.
The tax collectors expect to
seize the pay checks of TOO en-
ployes during the first two
weeks Of January--and then 60
after the rest of the reluctant
taxpayers as fast as possible.
Internal Revenue is acting
under the new Federal income
tax law which the last session
of Congress passed. The law
for the first time authorizes
Internal Revenue to garnishee
wages of employees of the Fed
eral or District of Columbia
governments.
The Washington field Office Of
Internal Revenue has a list Of
about 1,100 District of Columbia
employees and 1900 Federal en-
ployes who have not paid their
Federal taxes or made an ar
rangement for periodic payments.
These 5000 delinquents live in
the District. Another 1000 or
1000 persons affected by the
drive live in nearby Virginia and
Maryland.
Vigorous Use Planned.
Internal Revenue Commits
sioner T. Coleman Andrews is
insisting on vigorous use of the
Governments new power to coll
lect. l.. Alfred Chamberlin, di-
rector of the Baltimore district
of Internal Revenue, told The
Star that he will start collections
Immediately after the new pro-
vision goes into effect January !.
"The law was changed so that
the Government employe must
pay taxes like any one else," Mr..
Chamberlin said. I'VE have made
every possible effort to collect
without drastic measures, and
each taxpayer has been warned
by letter that If he did not pay
we could attach his salary. Many
have not paid.
Therefore, we have come to
the point where the law permits
us to bring them in line with
other classes of taxpayers"
All-Around Authority.
Internal Revenue always has
had authority to attach the SAL
aries of persons employed by pri-
vate industry Now the new law
makes collections from Federal
or District of Columbia employees
easy.
Internal Revenue simply sends
formal notification to a Federal
or municipal agency listing en-
ployes who are delinquent in
taxes, and asking that their
wages up to the amount Of the
taxes be turned over to Uncle
Sam instead of to the employe.
The employer has little choice
except to obey.
The first group of 700 names
will go to about so Federal and
city agencies early next month.
This will give the employers
enough time to hold up the pay
checks that ordinarily go out in
the middle of the month. II the
first pay check Is not big enough
TO cover all the taxes due, then
the next pay check will be seized.
Filed But Not Paid.
Every one involved in the cur
rent drive has filed his Federal
tax returns, but has not paid
Filing the return ordinarily pro-
tects the citizen from criminal
prosecution.
Many Federal employees have
filed - and not paid - because
they knew that Uncle Sam in
the past has had to 60 to enor-
nous difficulty to collect. Now
that Uncle Sam has the weapon
OF garnishment, many have paid,
or promised to pay.
Internal Revenue officials said
about 5000 Federal or city en-
ployes living in the District are
now paying of their back taxes
~.