Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1917 — TAX COLLECTOR COMING HERE [ARTICLE]

TAX COLLECTOR COMING HERE

Will Be at the Postoflice in Rensselaer January 21-31. In a communication received by The Democrat, Collector of Internal Revenue Peter J. Kruyer announces that a federal income tax collector will be sent into this county on January 21, 1918, and will be here until January 31. He will have his office in the postoflice building in Rensselaer, and will be there every day ready and willing to help persons subject to the income tax make out their returns without any* cost to them for his services. How many income tax payers will there be in Jasper county? * If you can guess how many married persons living with wife or husband who have net incomes of $2,000 or ovpr and how many unmarried (persons with net incomes of SI,OOO or over this year, then you know. The collector of internal revenue estimates that there will be 434 such taxpayers in this county. Returns oif income for the year of 1917 must be made on forms provided for the purpose before March 1, 1918. Because a goon many people don’t understand the law and won’t know how to make out their returns, the government is sending in this officer to do it for them. But the duty is on the taxpayer to make himself known to the government. If he doesn’t make a return as required before March 1 he may have to pay a penalty ranging from S2O to SI,OOO, pay a fine or go to jail. So If you don’t want to take chances on going to jail you had better call on the income tax man. If you are not sure about being subject to the tax ask him and make sure. Whether you see the income tax man or not you must make return if subject to the tax. Of course, persons resident in other counties may, if they want to, come in and see the income tax man while he is in Rensselaer. . The collector suggests that everybody start figuring up now his 'j income and expenses so as to be ready with the figures when the expert arrives. Expenses, however, don’t mean family expenses, money used to pay off the principal of a debt, new machinery, buildings, or anything like that. They mean what you spend in making money—interest, taxes Raid, hired help, amount paid for goods sold, _ seed stock bought for feeding, rent (except your dwelling), etc. Income 1 includes about every dollar you get.