Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-08

II you're in the 5000 to
SIC. 900 income bracket and on
your 1858 Federal income tax
return, you're deducting around
$3.50 for contributions. around
1910 for interest and around
1910 for medical expenses,
you're matching the average
amounts deducted by other tax
payers in your income class.
The odds are, therefore. that
II and when a tax agent checks
your 1858 return, he'll pass by
these deductions without ques-
tioning them. You're taking
of what has been calculated as
typical amounts; your deduc-
tons appear honest. reasonable
II, though, your deductions
are way above these totals,
you're asking for a second look
land should your return be Sc
lected by a Treasury agent for
an audit. you can bet you'll
get it.
April is is the deadline for
filing your 1858 income tax re-
turn.
Comparisons Offered
You may find it Of consid-
Ierable aid to know how the de-
auctions you're planning to take
compare with the averages for
others in your income bracket
The figures were worked out by
Leon Gold. tax expert Of the
Research Institute of America
from the 1856 returns, the --latest
tabulated.
If your adjusted gross in
come is $1,000 to $4,000:
The average amount de-
Quoted by taxpayers for con-
tributions is $243: for interest
1854; for taxes, 1921: for med
lical expenses. $500; for casu-
atty losses, $148.
If your adjusted gross in
come is $4,000 to $4,000:
The average deduction fol
contributions in this bracket Is
$428; for interest. $544: fol
taxes. $572; for medical ex-
lpenses, $516; for casualty
losses. $186.
If your adjusted gross in
come is $4,000 to $4,000: =
Teh average for contribu-
tions here is $601; for interest
1854; for taxes, $804; for med
ical expenses, $768; for casu.
alty losses, $249.
i If your adjusted gross in
come is $4,000 to $4,000:
The average for contribu
tons is STU: for interest, $753,
for taxes, $1,035; for medica
Expenses. 1892; for casualty
losses. 1888.
Il If your adjusted gross in.
come is $25. 900 to $4,000:
The average for contribu'
tons is $1.137; for interest
$1.036; for taxes, $1.468: TO
medical expenses, $1,184: TO
casualty losses. $3.50.
Additional Advice
And so the deduction
|, mount as the income bracket
mount. In the $100,000-and
up class, contributions averag
only $15.747, which seems sur
lprisingly modest.) But compa
risons in these rarif1ed incom
brackets aren't of practica
concern to many of us.
Incidentally, when weighin
: your own deductions agains
; these averages, give yourself
bit more leeway. For as MI
: Gold says. These calculation
! are based on 1856 returns, an
. almost certainly since then tn
leverage for deductions gener
ally has risen"
, Now what do these compari
sons mean to you? In addition
to showing you how you com
pare, they flash two practice
messages:
If you are claiming deduc
tons well above the averages
, presumably you're honest abou
it. but your chances of beinI
questioned are decidedly en-
lhanced simply by the fact tina
you stand out. Be preparet
with ample proof to back you
claims when and as YOUR
checked.
If you're claiming deduction
well below the average. pre-
sumably you're spending les
than other taxpayers in you,
L.