OCR Text |
Show APR L 1 LAST DAY FOR FEDERAL RETURNS Penalties for Income Dodgers Are Severe Get Your Return in if You Are Liable. April 1, 1918, Is ihe filial day allowed al-lowed under llie federal Income tax law for the filing of federal Income tax returns. Persons who are required requir-ed to file returns under the provisions of law and who fall to get their returns re-turns in on time are subject to severe se-vere penalties, as follows: For making false or fraudulent return, re-turn, uot exceeding $:i,0UO or not exceeding ex-ceeding one year's imprisonment, or both, in the discretion of the court, and, lu uddltiou, 1UU per cent, of the tax evaded. For falling to make return on time, not less than $20 nor more tliun $1,-000. $1,-000. and, in additlou, 50 per cent, of the amount of tax due. If on account of illness or absence from home you are unable to render jour return within the lime prescribed by law you may obtain an extension of 30 days If a request therefor is filed with the collector of your district before be-fore the due date of the return. In this request you must state the reason rea-son why the returu cannot be filed within the time prescribed by law. Collectors of internal revenue are not authorized to grant extensions of more than 30 days, but the commissioner commis-sioner of Internal revenue has authority author-ity to grant a reasonable extension beyoud 30 days in meritorious cases. If you desire an extension of more than 30 days your request should be addressed to the commissioner and should contain a detailed statement covering the reasons which make it Impossible for you to Hie your return on or before April 1. The internal revenue men are now completing their tour of the country, during which they were in touch with the people of every city and town. If you failed to get In touch with the deputy which visited your section it is Dot too late to get advice. Consult your postmaster as to where tho nearest near-est deputy Is now. (Jet your blank form, study the directions and the requirements re-quirements as shown thereon and make your return without fail if your Income was sufficient to come within the bounds named in the law. It Is pointed out by Commissioner Roper that It Is Important that '.he people comply with the federal laws as fully as they pre complying with the drafts for men and the conservation conserva-tion of foods and fuel. "The war musv be paid for," says Commissioner Roper. "Congress has as much right to conscript con-script a Just portion of income as It has to conscript our boys. The tax for 1917 Is designed to reach moderate moder-ate as well as large Incomes, so that all persons who are In financial position posi-tion to bear a portion of the heavy government expenses can be 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 hv 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 is one which recognizes women as on an equal basis with men. The unmnrrled woman or the married woman with a, salary must make tax return Just the same as any mau. Only the woman supporting her mother or other members of her family may take out $2,000 -exemption. Under the law the head of the faml-. faml-. ly Is the one whose earning power contributes con-tributes to the family's support. Similarly a widow with small children chil-dren to support can take out $2,000 exemption and $200 additional exemption exemp-tion for each of her children under eighteen. Thus It Is Intended that the law shall work no hardship to women wo-men having to struggle to get along. But ' each must file return If her Income In-come Is $1,000. A man whose wife dies and who la left with smull children to support upon a moderate Income may also take full exemption under the new tax law and also claim $200 exemption foi each of his children under eighteen. The widower under the law Is a ingle man and must make tax return re-turn accordingly. Married men need not file returns unless they are earning earn-ing $2,000 or more.' "This Is as much a national obligation obliga-tion as the reporting for duty of a man drafted for service with the colors," says D. C. Roper, commissioner of internal in-ternal revenue. "As It stands. It la much a matter of the man or woman's wo-man's own conscience. It Is for him or for her to determine Just how far he Is liable to the tax. He must figure his own Income and If It reaches the figures named In the law must make faithful report on it to the proper authority. |