(EDITOR’S NOTE: Senator John
Heinz, chairman of the U.S. Senate
Special Committee on Aging, peri-
odically writes a column for the
aging. This week’s topic is ‘“‘Avoid-
ing Tax Penalties.”’)
Recently my colleague from
Kansas, Senator Nancy Kassebaum,
relayed to me a terrible story of an
~ 84-year-old woman who underpaid
her Federal income taxes by just 60
cents and wound up paying an IRS
penalty worth $50.28!
Inquiries mad
on this woman’
behalf revealedf
that she was
fined not because
she underpaid
~~ her taxes, bu
because
failed to file th
quarterly
mated
returns require
~ by a poorly publi
cized tax law.
This regulation has cost more than
300,000 elderly Americans millions
of penalty dollars every year.
Presently, Senator Kassebaum
and I are working to gain approval
of a waiver for persons aged 65 and
older from these burdensome
returns. But until that happens,
don’t be caught blindsided by the
IRS. The tax agency will not waive
these penalties - even if you are
unaware of them - so you should
read carefully to avoid being
included in these statistics.
- The estimated quarterly tax
requirement is one of the most
confusing provisions of federal tax
~ law, but last year, nearly 10 million
Americans paid $45.1 billion in taxes
by adhering to it. Its justification is
simple. Many people, especially the
retired and elderly, live on interest
and dividend income, or money
generated by the sale of stocks or a
home. The IRS is entitled to collect
taxes on these funds, but because
what's owed isn’t withheld in a
paycheck, you are required to file a
‘tax return every quarter, paying a
‘share of your estimated yearly tax
bill as you go.
, The Economic Recovery Tax Act
‘of 1982 set “minimum tax thresh-
olds’ that trigger the need to file
estimated returns. For example,
this tax year, if you owe an annual
minimum of $300, you must file
quarterly returns. In tax year 1984,
that trigger will be $400 and for
every year afterwards, the amount
will be $500.
~
After filing the first return, the
IRS will send you preprinted forms
that. will include ytdauauname,
address, Social Security number,
and the date the next return is due.
On that date, send your return to
the appropriate IRS center, clearly
indicated in your instructions.
To better understand, then, what
happened to our elderly friend in
Kansas, let’s look again at her case,
applying the rules for estimated tax
returns. We find that she sold some
securities “because she couldn’t
make ends meet on her monthly
interest income. That one transac-
tion was large enough to boost her
yearly income to a level that
required a quarterly return.
But because she didn’t know
about this provision, she filed a
standard year-end return, and paid
the government $514.50, the amount
she calculated she owed. As you can
see, she received the penalty notice
because she failed to file an esti-
mated return, based on the fact that
she would owe more than $300 in
taxes.
It’s not too late to file a quarterly
return for 1984. Check your local
IRS office for details.
The Region III Pennsylvania
Energy . Center of the Economic
Development Council of Northeast-
ern Pennsylvania, provides free
publications on energy conservation
to individuals and businesses in the
seven county Northastern Pennsyl-
vania area. Included within this
area are the Counties of Carbon,
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe,
Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne. The
Energy Center has over 50 publica-
tions available on the following
topics: insulation, solar energy,
wind energy, heating with wood,
home energy cost cutting guide, etc.
To order: any of the publications
above, mail your request to: Region
III Pennsylvania Energy Center,
P.O. Box 777, Avoca, Pennsylvania
18641.
PATRICK BROWN
Patrick J. Brown, 41, of Fern
Street, Dallas, died April 4 at his
home.
Surviving are his wife, the former
Janet Hall; sons, Patrick III,
Michael and Thomas, all at home; a
stepdaughter, Carol Mindzak, Dale
City, VA; brother, Michael, Shaver-
town.
Funeral was held April 7 from the
Richard H. Disque Funeral Home,
Dallas, with the Rev. John Foley of
St. Frances Cabrini Church officiat-
ing. Interment, Mount Olivet Ceme-
tery, Carverton. Military Funeral
services were conducted by a burial
detail of the United States Marine
Corps Training Center of Wyoming.
JOHN KADER
John Kader, RD 1, Dallas, died
April 6 in Tyler Memorial Hospital,
Tunkhannock.
Surviving are two brothers,
Anthony and Alex, both of Swoyers-
ville; sisters, Mrs. Mary Lechaton,
Swoyersville; Mrs. Helen Julia
Maceina, Jenkins Township.
639-5788
MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
HARVEYS LAKE, PA.
CABINETS SIDING SKYLIGHTS
SAUNAS PATIOS POOLS
‘DECKS HOT TUBS PANELING
GARAGES SHEDS ROOFS
ALSO
PILE DRIVING
DE-ICING
WILLIAM DAUKSIS, OWNER
OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE
LICENSED AND INSURED
Fast,
Standard Shock,
1-inch bore
.$15.95 each
$18.95 each
$22.95 each
..$22.95 each
$61.95 pair
$89.95 Go
Free otaliationt \g
Funeral was held April 9 from the
Edwin A. Sites Funeral Home,
Pittston, with a Mass of Christian
Burial in St. Mary’s Czestochowa
Church, Swoyersville. Interment,
parish cemetery.
DAISY LUTES
Mrs. Daisy P. Lutes, 99, died
April 7 in Carpenter Nursing Home,
Harveys Lake, where she had lived
the past seven years.
Her first husband, Andrew Steltz,
died in 1946, Her second husband,
Herman Lutes, died in 1965. A
daughter, Hilda, died in 1920. Sur-
viving are four grandchildren; 16
great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-
grandchildren; several nephews and
nieces.
Funeral was held April 10 from
the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral
Home, corner of routes 29 and 118,
Pikes Creek, with the Rev. Jeffrey
Rarich, pastor of Maple Grove
United MEthodist Church, offiiat-
"Births —
The following area couples have
announced births during the past
week:
A son to ANN LOUISE AND
GREGG HOOVER, RD 1, Sweet
Valley, on April 4 in Nesbitt Memo-
rial Hospital, Kingston.
A son to MARY AND KENNETH
OLSHEFSKI, Box 367 High Street,
Harveys Lake, on April 2 in Nesbitt
Memorial Hospital, Kingston.
A daughter to JUDILYN AND
ARLINGTON PRICE, 213 Holly
Street, Trucksville, on April 3 in
Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kings-
ton.
A daughter to MARGIE AND
JOSEPH BANKS, 217 Valley View
Drive, Dallas, on April 1 in Wilkes-
Barre General Hospital.
A daughter to DEBRA "AND
REED MACARTY, box 234, RD 4,
Dallas, on March 30 in Wilkes-Barre
General Hospital.
A daughter to CATHERINE AND
., LAWRENCE POLACHEK, RD 1,
Box 449, Dallas, on April 1 in
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
A daughter to JANET AND
ROBERT CRAGLE, 66 South Drive,
Dallas, on April 1 in Nesbitt Memo-
rial Hospital, Kingston.
A son and daughter to JANET
AND CHARLES HEACOCK, RD 2,
Box 24-A, Harveys lake, on March
30 in Nesbitt Memorial Hospital,
Kingston.
A son to MARY AND MARK
ENGLER, 22 Hillcrest Drive,
Dallas, on April 2 in Wilkes-Barre
General Hospital.
A daughter to DEANA AND
ROBERT GORDON, RD 2, Box 366,
Dallas, on April 1 in Wilkes-Barre
General Hospital.
New Selection of...
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Men's
Dallas Post/Ed Campbell
Changing times
The weather around here sometimes gets crazy, but the
recent weather tops it all. As Mother Nature dumped over a
foot of snow in the Back Mountain area recently, people
were forced to dig their way out from under it. Here, in the
top photo, Don Widener of Lehman, attempts to find his car
through all the snow while the lower left photo depicts a
robin who has arrived here for the Spring. The robin was
spotted in the front yard of the Welby family in Lehman just
two days after the snowstorm.
im
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Commonwealth Telephone Enter-
prises, Inc. (CTE), a telephone,
business communications and cable
television company, announced it
has negotiated a majority interest
to provide cellular radio service in
Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Commonwealth is one of 23 major
telephone companies who have
SWEAT PANTS
7.95 up
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Kids
Tee Shirts and
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Lee
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Suggested list price $85.00 — Save 30%
SCRANTON - 220 W. Market St., 346 7343
KINGSTON - S. Wyoming at Northampton, 288 9329
WILKES-BARRE - Rt. 309 Ashley Bypass, 825 7329
HAZLETON - Church & 21st Sts., 455 9591 / TAYLOR - Main & Loomis Sts., 961 1422
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LIFETIME GUARANTEE * TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER rely
Cole-installed MUFFLERS and SHOCKS are GUARANTEED for as long as you
own your domestic or imported car, van or pickup, including parts and
labor, with service performed in a Cole Muffler shop. Guarantee not
transferable. Commercial and wholesale installations excluded
| coMPARE Cole PRICES BEFORE YOU
BUY MUFFLERS-SHOCKS- TRAILER HITCHES
aa
100 Yds. off Dallas Hwy.,
across from Mark Il, Dallas
675-4800
formed a national agreement to
furnish cellular facilities in 38 of the
tlement agreement was filed for
approval with the Federal Commu-
nications Commission on February
2.
CTE’s majority interest is in
Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe
counties, where it will have operat-
ing responsibility. It also has signed
for minority interests in Allentown-
Bethelehem-Easton and Harrisburg.
the traditional mobile telephone
include wider range, stronger
signal, greater handling capacity
and increased availability.
Congressman Frank Harrison has
announced that copies of the Con-
sumer Information Catalog for
Spring, 1984, are nwo available at
his Wilkes-Barre district office.
The catalog lists the titles of
various government publications,
some of which are available at no
cost.
Interested persons may call the
Wilkes-Barre office at 825-2200 to
Information Catalog. Those outside
the local Wilkes-Barre dialing ara
may call toll-free, 1-800-222-2346, to
request a copy. The supply of catal-
ogs is limited.
South St., Wilkes-Barre, is pleased to
announce the opening of a branch office
for the general and trial practice of law
located at 9 NORTH MAIN STREET, PLAINS
Services include:
® bankruptcy
® corporations
® civil rights
e workmen's
compensation
e wrongful death
® criminal law
eo real estate
eo wills & estates
e personal injury
e medical malpractice
e divorce-support-custody
Fees upon request
Office hours daily or evenings by appointment
Phone 825-6592
GACICICT