CASE II.-Calculation of Ad Valorem Duties.

452. When duties are imposed upon the actual cost of merchandise, there are of course no deductions to be made; consequently we have only to find the legal per cent. on the amount of the given invoice, or cost of the goods, and it will be the duty required.

Ex. 11. What is the ad valorem duty, at 25 per cent., on a case of bombazines, invoiced at $450 ?

Solution.-$450.25=$112.50, the ad valorem duty. Hence,

453. To find the ad valorem duty on any given merchandise. Multiply the amount of the given invoice by the legal per cent., and the product will be the duty required. (Art. 324.)

OBS. 1. An invoice is a written statement of merchandise, with the value or prices of the articles annexed.

2. The law requires that the invoice shall be verified by the owner, or one of the owners of the goods, certifying that the invoice annexed contains a true and faithful account of the actual costs thereof, and of all charges thereon, and no other different discount, bounty, or drawback, but such as has been actually allowed on the same; which oath shall be administered by a consul, or commercial agent of the United States, or by some public officer duly authorized to administer oaths in the country where the goods were purchased, and the same shall be duly certified by the said consul, &c. Fraud on the part of the owners, or the consul, &c., who administers the oath, is visited with a heavy penalty.-Laws of the United States.

12. What is the ad valorem duty, at 20 per cent., on an invoice of broadcloths which cost $1240 in Manchester?

13. What is the ad valorem duty, at 34 per cent., on an invoice of silks, which cost $2110 in Italy?

14. What is the duty, at 25 per cent., on a quantity of indigo, the invoice of which is $1968 ?

15. What is the duty on a bale of Irish linens, which cost $3187, at 33 per cent. ?

16. At 25 per cent., what is the duty on an invoice of hosiery, amounting to $2863 ?

QUEST –453. How are ad valorem duties calculated? Obs. What is an invoice? What does the law require respecting the invoice of imported goods?

17. At 334 per cent., what is the duty on an invoice of mousseline de laines, amounting to $3690?

18. At 35 per cent., what is the duty on an invoice of watches, amounting to $45385 ?

19. What is the duty, at 20 per cent., on an invoice of boots and shoes, amounting to $63212?

20. What is the duty, at 15 per cent., on a quantity of readymade clothing, worth $18714?

21. What is the duty on $37241 worth of spices, at 30 per ct. ? 22. What is the duty on $46210 worth of liquor, at 371⁄2 per

cent. ?

23. At 22 per cent., what is the duty on $71685 worth of crockery?

ASSESSMENT OF TAXES.

454. A Tax is a sum of money assessed on individuals for the support of Government, Corporations, Parishes, Districts, &c. Taxes levied by the Government, are assessed either on the person or property of the citizens. When assessed on the person, they are called poll taxes, and are usually a specific sum. Those assessed on the property are usually apportioned at a certain per cent. on the amount of real estate and personal property of each citizen or taxable individual.

OBS. Property is divided into two kinds, viz: real estate and personal property. The former denotes possessions that are fixed; as houses, lands, &c. The latter comprehends all other property; as money, stocks, notes, mortgages, ships, furniture, carriages, cattle, tools, &c.

455. When a tax of any given amount is to be assessed, the first thing to be done is to obtain an inventory of the amount of taxable property, both personal and real, in the State, County, Corporation, or District, by which the tax is to be paid; also the amount of property of every citizen who is to be taxed, together with the number of Polls.

QUEST.-454. What are taxes? Upon what are they assessed? When assessed upon the person, what are they called? When assessed upon the property, how are they ap portioned ? Obs. How is property divided? What does real estate denote? What iɛi personal property? 455. When a tax is to be assessed, what is the first step?

OBS. 1. By the number of polls is meant the number of taxable individuals, which usually includes every native or naturalized freeman over the age of 21, and under 70 years. In Massachusetts poll taxes are assessed upon every male inhabitant of the state, between the ages of 16 and 70 years, whether a citizen or an alien.*

2. When any part or the whole of a tax is assessed upon the polls, each citizen is taxed a specific sum, without regard to the amount of property he possesses.

Ex. 1. The tax assessed by a certain town is $990; its property, both personal and real, is valued at $28000, and it contains 300 polls, which are assessed 50 cents apiece. What per cent. is the tax; that is, how much is the tax on a dollar; and how much is a man's tax who pays for 3 polls, and whose property is valued at $1500?

Solution.-Since 1 poll pays 50 cents, 300 polls must pay 300 times 50 cents, which is $150. Now $990-$150-$840, the sum to be assessed on the property. Now if $28000 is to pay $840, $1 must pay st and $840-$28000-$.03,

28000

of $840;

or 3 per cent. Finally, the tax on $1500, the amount of the man's property, at 3 per cent., is $1500X.03 $45; and $45+ $1.50 (3 polls)=$46.50, the man's tax. Hence,

456. To assess a State, County, or other tax.

I. First find the amount of tax on all the polls, if any, at the given rate, and subtract this sum from the whole tax to be assessed. Then dividing the remainder by the whole amount of taxable property in the State, County, &c., the quotient will be the per cent. or tax on one dollar.

II. Multiply the amount of each man's property by the tax on one dollar, and the product will be the tax on his property.

III. Add each man's poll tax to the tax he pays on his property, and the amount will be his whole tax.

PROCE-When a tax bill is made out, add together the taxes of all the individuals in the town, district, &c., and if the amount is equal to the whole tax assessed, the work is right.

QUEST. Obs. What is meant by the number of polls? 456. How are takes assessed 7 When a tax bill is made out, how is its correctness proved?

*Revised Statutes of Massachusetts.

2. A certain corporation is taxed $537.50; the whole property of the corporation is valued at $35000, and there are 50 polls which are assessed 25 cents apiece. What per cent. is the tax; and how much is a man's tax, who pays for 2 polls, and whose property is valued at $4240.

Operation.

Multiply $.25 the tax on 1 poll,

By 50 the number of polls.

$12.50 Amount on polls.

But $537.50-12.50-$525, the sum assessed on the corporation; and $525÷$35000.015, the per cent. or tax on $1. Now $4240X.015-$63.60, the tax on the man's property, And .25X2= .50, the tax for polls.

Ans. $64.10, whole tax..

3. What is B's tax, who pays for 3 polls, and whose property is valued at $3560?

4. What is C's tax, who is assessed for 1 poll and $5350 ?

5. The city of New York levied a tax of $1945600; its taxable property was rated at $243200000: what per cent. was the tax?

6. What was A's tax, whose property was valued at $10000? 7. What was B's tax, who was assessed for $15240?

8. What was C's tax, who was assessed for $35460 ?

457. Having ascertained the expenditures of a State, County, Town, &c., it is necessary in assessing the tax, to take into con sideration the expense of collecting it. Collectors are paid a certain per cent. commission on the amount collected; (Art. 388. Obs. 1;) consequently, in determining the exact sum to be assessed, allowance must be made not only for the commission on the net amount to be raised; but also on the commission itself; for the commission is to be paid out of the money collected.

9. If the expenses of a town are $950, what sum must be assessed to raise this amount, with 5 per cent. commission for collecting it?

Analysis. Since the commission is 5 per cent. the net value of $1 assessment is 95 cents. Therefore, if 95 cents net, require $1 assessment, $950 net, will require as many dollars assessment, as 95 cents are contained times in $950; and $950÷$.95=1000. Ans. $1000.

PROOF. $1000 ×.05=$50, the commission ;

and $1000-$50-$950, the net sum required. Hence, 458. To find what sum must be assessed, to raise a given net amount.

Subtract the given per cent. commission from $1, and the remainder will be the net value of $1 assessment.

Divide the net amount to be raised by the net value of $1 assess · ment, and the quotient will be the sum to be assessed.

OBS. To meet the expense of collecting a tax, assessors not unfrequently calculate the commission at the given per cent. on the net amount to be raised, and add it to the tax bill. This method is wrong, and leads to erroneous results. Thus, on a tax of $1000, at 5 per cent. commission, the net amount is $2.50 too small; on $100000, the error is $250; on $1000000, it is $2500.

10. What sum must be assessed to raise a net amount of $8500, with 4 per cent. commission for collection?

11. What sum must be assessed to raise $15400 net, allowing 4 per cent. commission for collection?

12. Allowing 5 per cent. for collection, what sum must be assessed to raise $16475 net?

13. Allowing 3 per cent. for collection, what sum must be assessed to raise $32860 net?

FORMATION OF TAX BILLS.

459. In making out a tax bill for a Town, District, &c., having found the tax on $1, it is advisable to make a table, showing the amount of tax on any number of dollars from 1 to $10; then from $10 to $100; and from $100 to $1000.

14. A township composed of 16 citizens, levies a tax of $5700; the town contains 30 polls, which are assessed 50 cents each, and

QUEST-458. How find what sum must be assessed to raise a tax of a given amount ?