Giving to the Government

Americans paid $100 billion in personal federal income taxes for the past fiscal year, and most citizens probably feel that was more than enough. There are others, however, who wish to go beyond what they are legally bound to pay their Government, and they make outright gifts in the form of bequests, donations or nagging "conscience" money for an unforgotten bit of Government bilking.

No one knows how much money has been given over the years because the total has never been officially tabulated, but by one reckoning the Department of the Treasury has collected more than $43 million dollars since 1862. That does not include gifts given directly to other departments, nor does it include gifts designated by the donor to reduce the national debt, to aid the national defense, or to support Washington's Kennedy Center. In fiscal 1973, conscience-fund contributions alone came to $52,000, though the amount varies widely from year to year. In fiscal 1960 it was $103,000.

Reasons for giving are unaccountably various. One 81-year-old man calculated the national debt, divided the figure by the number of citizens, and came up with $1,825. He decided that was his share of the burden, and sent the Government precisely that amount. A woman left $17,761.19 to the Government in her will "for the partial construction of an airplane bomber." Many contributors like to remain anonymous. Last March, for instance, a $1,000 bill arrived at the IRS center in Covington, Ky., with a note that read simply: "Somewhere along the line I shortchanged you."

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