Plentywood Herald

APRIL 15 IS FINAL DAY FOR RETURNS

STATE INCOME TAX PAYERS MUST FILE REPORTS SOON

The time for filing 1936 State Income Tax returns will close April 15th, so states I. C. Burns, supervisor for the income tax department of the state Board of Equalization at Helena. Taxpayers who are in doubt should ask the Board for instructions immediately.

In spite of all the publicity given this question there are hundreds of taxpayers who forget or neglect to discharge their duty under the law by filing their State Income Tax returns on or before the closing date of the filing period.

There are a few who contend they never have heard of the State Income Tax law and yet they have incomes sufficient to require them to file a return. The great crop of delinquents for whom the Board of Equalization must diligently search comes from that class who neglect or forget to file their returns.

This crop of delinquents must pay the penalty for this oversight. Even ignorance of the law is not acceptable in any court as an excuse for failure to file a return. If this excuse were accepted there would be no incentive for taxpayers to file their returns on time.

The Board has no desire to impose penalties. They always create friction and arguments which no one enjoys. They have a tendency to destroy that cordial relationship which should exist between the tax-paying public and the administrative offices of the Board. It is impossible to have an income tax auditor on every man's doorstep on April 15th to assist him with the preparation and filing of his return. The Board is, therefore, limited in furnishing this service to the greatest number who can be reached in the shortest possible time.