Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1918 — APRIL 1 LAST DAY FOR FEDERAL RETURNS [ARTICLE]

APRIL 1 LAST DAY FOR FEDERAL RETURNS

Penalties for Income Dodgers Are Severe —Get Your Return in if You Are Liable. April I, 1918. Js the final day allowed under the federal income tux law for the filing of federal income tax returns. Persons who are required to file returns under the provisions of law and who fall to get their returns in on time are subject to severe penalties, as follows: For making false or fraudulent return, not exceeding $2,000 or not exceeding one year's imprisonment, or both, in the discretion of the court, and. iu addition, 100 per cent, of the tax evaded. For failing to make return on time, not less than S2O nor more than sl,000, and, in addition, 50 per cent, of the amount of tax due. If on account of Illness or absence from home you are unable to rentier your return within the Mute prescribed by law you may obtain an extension of 30 days If a request therefor Is filed with the collector of your district before the due date of the return. In this request you must state the reason why the return Cannot be filed within the tinte prescribed by law. Collectors of Internal revenue are not authorized to grant extensions of more than 30 days, hut the commissioner of Internnl revenue has author ity to grant a reasonable extension beyond 30 days In meritorious cases. If you desire an extension of more than 30 days your request should he addressed to the commissioner and should contain a detailed statement covering the reasons which make it Impossible for you to file your return on or before April 1. The internal revenue men arenow completing their lour of the country, during which they were In touch with the jteople of every city and town. If you failed to get in touch with the deputy which visited your section It Is not too late to get advice. Consult your postmaster as to where the neats est deputy Is now. Get your blank form, study the directions and the requirements as shown thereon and make your return without fail If your Income was sufficient to come within the hounds named in the law. It Is pointed out by Commissioner Iloper that It Is important that the people comply with the federal laws as fully ns they are complying with the drafts for men and the conservation of foods and fuel. “The war must he paid for,” says Commissioner Itoper. “Congress has as much right to conscript a Just iwirtion of Income as It has to conscript our boys. The tax for 1917 Is designed to reach moderate as well as large Incomes, so that all persons who are In financial position to bear a portion of the heavy government expenses can he assessed In proportion to their ability to pay. “The man who Is barely making a living or barely supporting a family Is not affected by the 1917 law. But the man who Is able to bear a share of the burden has been reached by the new law, and he should accept his responsibility In the same patriotic spirit that our young men have shown In offering themselves for this great purpose of the country to make the world safe for people of all kinds to live In and to govern themselves.” This tax la one which recognizes women as on an equal basis with men. The unmarried woman or the married woman with a salary must make tax return Just the same as any man. Only the woman supporting her mother or other members of her family may talas out $2,000 exemption. Under the law the head of the family Is the one whose earn! ig power contributes to the family's support. » Similarly a widow with small children to support can take out $2,000 exemption and S2OO additional eiemptlon for each of her children under eighteen. Titus It is intended that the law shall work no hardship to women having to struggle to get along.

But each must file return 11 net come is SI,OOO. A man whose wife dies and who Ulj left with small children to supportj upon a moderate Inctune may also take! full exemption under the new tax laW and also claim S2OO exemption fori erch of his children under eighteen. The widower under the law la at 6lngle nmn and must make tax W turn accordingly. Married men need not file returns unless they are ing $2,000 or more. “This is as much a national obllgaw tion as the reporting for duty of a man drafted for service with the coloi'S,’* says D. G. Roper, commissioner of Internal revenue. "As it stands. It 1* much a matter of the man or woman's own conscience. It Is for hin» or for her to determine Just how far he is liable to the tax. He must figure his own income and If it reaches tha figures named in the law must make faithful report upon it to the proper authority. “This tax Is distinctly a war measure and will l>e in effect during the war. “This Is a people’s tax —It reaches right down Into the pockets of the small wage earner; It makes him a partner In the Job of winning the war.” There are 55G war charities registered in London.