If you elect to use the Standard Deduction or the Tax Table , and later find you should have itemized your deductions , you may do so by filing an amended return within the time prescribed for filing a claim for refund .
See You May Claim A Refund , Page 135 .
The same is true if you have itemized your deductions and later decide you should have used the Standard Deduction or Tax Table .
The words amended return should be plainly written across the top of such return .
When and where to file
April 15 is usually the final date for filing income tax returns for most people because they use the calendar year ending on December 31 .
If you use a fiscal year , a year ending on the last day of any month other than December , your return is due on or before the 15th day of the 4th month after the close of your tax year .
Saturday , Sunday , or holiday .

If the last day ( due date ) for performing any act for tax purposes , such as filing a return or making a tax payment , etc. , falls on Saturday , Sunday , or a legal holiday , you may perform that act on the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday , Sunday , or legal holiday .
Since April 15 , 1962 , is on Sunday your return for the calendar year 1961 will be timely filed if it is filed on or before Monday , April 16 , 1962 .


If you mail A return or tax payment , you must place it in the mails in ample time to reach the district director on or before the due date .
Declaration of estimated tax .

If you were required to file a declaration of estimated tax for the calendar year 1961 , it is not necessary to pay the fourth installment otherwise due on January 15 , 1962 , if you file your income tax return Form 1040 , and pay your tax in full for the calendar year 1961 by January 31 , 1962 .
The filing of an original or amended declaration , otherwise due on January 15 , 1962 , is also waived , if you file your Form 1040 for 1961 and pay the full tax by January 31 , 1962 .
Farmers , for these purposes , have until February 15 , 1962 , to file Form 1040 and pay the tax in full for the calendar year 1961 .
Fiscal year taxpayers have until the last day of the first month following the close of the fiscal year ( farmers until the 15th day of the 2d month ) .
See Chapter 38 .


Nonresident aliens living in Canada or Mexico who earn wages in the United States may be subject to withholding of tax on their wages , the same as if they were citizens of the United States .
Their United States tax returns are due April 16 , 1962 .
However , if their United States income is not subject to the withholding of tax on wages , their returns are due June 15 , 1962 , if they use a calendar year , or the 15th day of the 6th month after the close of their fiscal year .
Nonresident aliens in Puerto Rico .

If you are a nonresident alien and a resident of Puerto Rico , your return is also due June 15 , 1962 , or the 15th day of the 6th month after the close of your fiscal year .


If A taxpayer dies , the executor , administrator , or legal representative must file the final return for the decedent on or before the 15th day of the 4th month following the close of the deceased taxpayer's normal tax year .
Suppose John Jones , who , for 1960 , filed on the basis of a calendar year , died June 20 , 1961 .
His return for the period January 1 to June 20 , 1961 , is due April 16 , 1962 .


The return for a decedent may also serve as a claim for refund of an overpayment of tax .
In such a case , Form 1310 should be completed and attached to the return .
This form may be obtained from the local office of your district director .


Returns of estates or trusts are due on or before the 15th day of the 4th month after the close of the tax year .
Extensions of time for filing .

Under unusual circumstances a resident individual may be granted an extension of time to file a return .
You may apply for such an extension by filing Form 2688 , Application For Extension Of Time To File , with the District Director of Internal Revenue for your district , or you may make your application in a letter .
Your application must include the following information : ( 1 ) your reasons for requesting an extension , ( 2 ) whether you filed timely income tax returns for the 3 preceding years , and ( 3 ) whether you were required to file an estimated return for the year , and if so whether you did file and have paid the estimated tax payments on or before the due dates .
Any failure to file timely returns or make estimated tax payments when due must be fully explained .
Extensions are not granted as a matter of course , and the reasons for your request must be substantial .
If you are unable to sign the request , because of illness or other good cause , another person who stands in close personal or business relationship to you may sign the request on your behalf , stating the reason why you are unable to sign .
You should make any request for an extension early so that if it is refused , your return may still be on time .
See also Interest On Unpaid Taxes , below .
Extensions while abroad .

Citizens of the United States who , on April 15 , are not in the United States or Puerto Rico , are allowed an extension of time until June 15 for filing the return for the preceding calendar year .
An extension of 2 months beyond the regular due date for filing is also available to taxpayers making returns for a fiscal year .
Alaska and Hawaii .

Taxpayers residing or traveling in Alaska are also allowed this extension of time for filing , but those residing or traveling in Hawaii are not allowed this automatic extension .


Military or Naval Personnel on duty in Alaska or outside the United States and Puerto Rico are also allowed this automatic extension of time for filing their returns .


You must attach a statement to your return , if you take advantage of this automatic extension , showing that you were in Alaska or were outside the United States or Puerto Rico on April 15 or other due date .
Interest on unpaid taxes .

Interest at the rate of 6% a year must be paid on taxes that are not paid on or before their due date .
Such interest must be paid even though an extension of time for filing is granted .
When payment is due .

If your computation on Form 1040 or Form 1040A shows you owe additional tax , it should be remitted with your return unless you owe less than $1 , in which case it is forgiven .
If payment is by cash , you should ask for a receipt .
If you file Form 1040A and the District Director computes your tax , you will be sent a bill if additional tax is due .
This bill should be paid within 30 days .
Payment by check or money order .

Whether the check is certified or uncertified , the tax is not paid until the check is paid .
If the check is not good and the April 15 or other due date deadline elapses , additions to the tax may be incurred .
Furthermore , a bad check may subject the maker to certain penalties .
All checks and money orders should be made payable to Internal Revenue Service .
Refunds .

An overpayment of income and social security taxes entitles you to a refund unless you indicate on the return that the overpayment should be applied to your succeeding year's estimated tax .


If you file Form 1040A and the District Director computes your tax , any refund to which you are entitled will be mailed to you .


If you file a Form 1040 , you should indicate in the place provided that there is an overpayment of tax and the amount you want refunded and the amount you want credited against your estimated tax .


Refunds of less than $1 will not be made unless you attach a separate application to your return requesting such a refund .
Where to file .

Send your return to the Director of Internal Revenue for the district in which you have your legal residence or principal place of business .
If you have neither a legal residence nor a principal place of business in any Internal Revenue district , your return should be filed with the District Director of Internal Revenue , Baltimore 2 , Md. .
If your principal place of abode for the tax year is outside the United States ( including Alaska and Hawaii ) , Puerto Rico , or the Virgin Islands and you have no legal residence or principal place of business in any Internal Revenue district in the United States , you should file your return with the Office of International Operations , Internal Revenue Service , Washington 25 , D.C. .
Adjusted gross income
.
The deductions allowed in determining Adjusted Gross Income put all taxpayers on a comparable basis .
It is the amount you enter on line 9 , page 1 of Form 1040 .
Some deductions are subtracted from Gross Income to determine Adjusted Gross Income .
Other deductions are subtracted only from Adjusted Gross Income in arriving at Taxable Income .


To compute your adjusted gross income you total all items of income .
( See Chapter 6 .
) From this amount deduct the items indicated below .


Businessmen deduct all ordinary and necessary expenses attributable to a trade or business .
Rents or royalties .

If you hold property for the production of rents or royalties you subtract , in computing Adjusted Gross Income , ordinary and necessary expenses and certain other deductions attributable to the property .
( See Chapter 15 .
)

Outside salesmen deduct all expenses attributable to earning a salary , commission , or other compensation .
( See Chapter 10 .
)

Employees deduct expenses of travel , meals and lodging while away from home in connection with the performance of their services as employees .
They also deduct transportation expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services as employees even though they are not away from home .
( See Chapter 12 .
) If your employer reimburses you for expenses incurred , you deduct such expenses if they otherwise qualify .
( See Chapter 10 .
)

Sick pay , if included in your Gross Income , is deducted in arriving at Adjusted Gross Income .
If your sick pay is not included in your Gross Income , you may not deduct it .
( See Chapter 9 .
) income from estates and trusts .

If you are a life tenant , you deduct allowable depreciation and depletion .
If you are an income beneficiary of property held in trust or an heir , legatee , or devisee , you may deduct allowable depreciation and depletion , if not deductible by the estate or trust .


Deductible losses on sales or exchanges of property are allowable in determining your Adjusted Gross Income .
( See Chapter 20 .
) 50% of capital gains .

You also deduct 50% of the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in determining Adjusted Gross Income .
( See Chapter 24 .
) other deductions .

Certain other deductions are not allowed in determining Adjusted Gross Income .
They may be claimed only by itemizing them on page 2 of Form 1040 .
These deductions may not be claimed if you elect to use the Standard Deduction or Tax Table .
( See Chapters 30 through 37 .
)


2 .
Minors minors must also file returns if they earn $600 or more during the year .

A minor is subject to tax on his own earnings even though his parent may , under local law , have the right to them and might actually have received the money .
His income is not required to be included in the return of his parent .


A minor child is allowed A personal exemption of $600 on his own return regardless of how much money he may earn .
Exemption also allowed parent .

If your child is under 19 or is a student you may also claim an exemption for him if he qualifies as your dependent , even though he earns $600 or more .
See Chapter 5 .
Example .

Your 16 year old son earned $720 in 1961 .
You spent $800 for his support .
Since he had gross income of $600 or more , he must file a return in which he may claim an exemption deduction of $600 .
Since you contributed more than half of his support , you may also claim an exemption for him on your return .
He may get a tax refund .

A minor who has gross income of less than $600 is entitled to a refund if income tax was withheld from his wages .
Generally , the refund may be obtained by filing Form 1040A accompanied by the withholding statement ( Form W-2 ) .
If he had income other than wages subject to withholding , he may be required to file Form 1040 .
See Chapter 1 .


If your child works for you , you may deduct reasonable wages you paid to him for services he rendered in your business .
You may deduct these payments even though your child uses the money to purchase his own clothing or other necessities which you are normally obligated to furnish him , and even though you may be entitled to his services .

