71 
INTRODUCTION 
While the sections of law contained in the Appendix appear largely 
in the order in which their substance is to be found in various parts 
of the Code, no attempt was made to work a concordance therewith, 
as the acts and parts of acts compiled were selected for their peculiar 
applicability or usefulness and do not purport to cover the entire 
subject matter of the titles of the Code in which their substance 
appears. 
CURRENT AND PRIOR LAW 
In the body of the book, “ Internal Revenue Laws,” chapters 1-23, 
the law in force April 1,1927, or “ current ” law, is printed in standard 
law measure and type, with side notes. Immediately following the 
current law in each chapter there are printed the prior acts on the 
same subject matter in chronological order through the Revenue Act 
of 1918, ‘or as much further as deemed expedient. Prior acts are 
printed in the smaller type, full measure, without side notes, with 
annotation or footnote indicating when or how they were repealed 
or superseded. Thus, chapter 19, * Income Taxes,” contains, first, 
the current income tax law, Title II, Revenue Act of 1926, printed 
'n the larger type, with side notes. Following the current law on 
‘ncome tax will be found, printed in the smaller type, without side- 
notes, in chronological order, Title II, Revenue Act of 1924 (Income 
Tax) ; Titles IT and III, Revenue Act of 1921 (Income and Excess- 
Profits Taxes) ; etc., back to and including section 38, act of August 
5, 1909 (Excise Tax on Corporations, based on net income). 
The Appendix contains only current law, printed in the larger 
type, without side notes, except the acts dealing with war-time pro- 
hibition enforcement (repealed) and the Civil Service Rules promul- 
rated by the President. which are printed in the smaller type. 
ANNOTATIONS 
The references in previous compilations to decisions of the courts, 
the opinions of the Attorney General, and rulings of this office bear- 
ing upon the construction of the sections which they follow, and 
explanatory thereof, are retained where applicable, with additions, 
as are also the references made in notes at the close of sections to 
other sections of the law relating to the same matter or which modify 
or affect the sections which they follow. 
In assembling the annotations for the body of the book, “Internal 
Revenue Laws,” from matter published since the last compilation, selec- 
tion was made of the more important and authoritative decisions and 
rulings. Thus, in the case of the income tax, estate tax, and other 
provisions imposing specific taxes, the administration of which is 
controlled largely by departmental interpretation, the selection was 
confined to those which have been made the basis of Treasury Deci- 
sions; while in connection with the administrative provisions or pro- 
visions of a regulatory, prohibitory, or penal nature, under which 
arise questions of procedure, evidence, official authority, etc., court 
ecisions which are generally recognized in the Bureau as controlling 
are included; while those of a more or less reiterative character or 
of minor importance or doubtful finality are omitted. Reference is 
also made to the more important of the decisions of the Board of 
Tax Appeals, interpreting the law adverse to the Government, in 
which the Commissioner has acquiesced.