Show Income Tax Time Alls All's Confusion and Cong Burton Hears Heats Em All Blame it on a guy named Manu As far as any records show he was was was' the one to begin this whole business nf vf income taxes and it happened nearly years ago Historians peg him as a man of wisdom wisdom- but during this time of the year Im I'm sure there would be a lot who disagree As far back as any anyone one can re remember member there has always been some form of taxation Its It's re recorded recorded recorded re- re corded that Athens had a form of progressive income tax in BC B.C. In 1925 France levied a combination property and income income in income in- in come tax England began its graduated i in income n c com o m e tax about 1435 and the colonists had more than their sh share re of various taxes This year more than 72 mil mil- lion A Americans m e r i c a n s will file returns returns re returns re- re turns and most of us will win shell out a few bucks to the government And how did this monster officially come into being It was 1913 when the Amendment to our Constitution officially ratified the foundation of our present Federal revenue system There have been numerous taxes since our De Declaration Declaration Declaration De- De of Independence They The I Civil War brought with it several personal and busin business ss taxes in the years 1861 64 and 65 Following the Panic of 1893 a two-per-cent two tax on individual and business incomes was levied This tax produced such bitter opposition that the path was p paved a v e d for the coming Amendment to the Constitution in 1913 So history and a a. a growing government have laid the groundwork for many headaches headaches headaches head head- aches at this time of year Theres There's really nothing humorous humor humor- ous about sitting down with theW the W W 2 2 forms expenses deductions deductions deductions deduc deduc- losses and profits and trying to m make a k e it all come out even Most of us dont don't break even and that's no laughing matter But since it is all a little painful I th thought Id I'd at least try to dig out of the Internal Revenue Service files here in Washington a few letters that may add a little humor to this time of the year One letter which reached theIRS theIRS the theIRS IRS office read Dear Sir Idid Idid I Idid did not make any money this year PS I have relatives One little old lady addressed the IRS this way I cI enclosed form 1040 simply to help you know I have not deceased Could I collect anything on my h ex-h husbands ex-husbands us bands and my social security taxes before 1959 Heres Here's one from a chap who must have been in the military because he begins his letter Greetings I was thinking of filing an tax income-tax return this year like I sometimes do when I learned through an advertisement advertisement advertisement advertise advertise- ment over the radio that inthis in inthis inthis this country we have the voluntary voluntary voluntary vol system of self assess assess- ment Now the only reason I have ever followed any system of self-assessment self in income tax was to avoid being sent to prison but since J I I have learned that this system is voluntary I Ishall Ishall Ishall shall simply volunteer not to assess myself at all How a about b o 0 u t this telegram Due to combination of flu and pregnancy of bookkeeper unable to complete corporation income tax return Urgently need a 90 day extension Pity this poor husband My wife and I are not incorporated Were We're married At your convenience convenience convenience con con- please forward to my residence a more appropriate tax return than the one herewith herewith herewith here here- with enclosed Income tax time is confusion time Read this one Dear Sir Uncle Sam needs more citizens 1 like i k kernel e me Every year Ive I've owed money to the government government government govern govern- ment when Ive I've filed my income tax and have cheerfully made payment Again this year I paid cheerfully But there was one difference I didn't owe any any- thing I was entitled to a re re- re fund When the income tax ac accountant accountant accountant ac- ac countant prepared my return he informed me I would receive a refund of 1932 this year But the following morning I absentmindedly aba abr sent-mindedly sent wrote a check for the amount to be returned to me It was the next day be before before before be- be fore I suddenly realized I hadn't shaken the habit From the one who thinks taxes are strictly for foreign aid Dear Mr r. r Director You will observe that I am paying taxes for this year Will you please see that the total money which I have paid goes to toa toa a Friendly Nation Ever brought up a small animal in your house Read on Gentlemen please furnish me with photocopies of all pages of my income tax return You have probably r read ad all the variations but a puppy ate mine Then theres there's the poet G Gentlemen I consent to your findings and apologize for lax In erring on my income tax Whatever the rebate modern style I waited abated with a smile- smile To enrich th the locals with my hard earn jack jack- Cause eventually you all will get it back And then there was this letter from Kodiak Alaska Concerning Concerning Con Concerning work and income I have no forms from any employers I been and I am sick That pretty well sums up the plight of the taxpayer during April preceding during and following the process of filing his income tax I I been and I am sick |