I thought it might be ‘fun’ to address how and when taxes began.
The first documented system of taxation began 6,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Livestock, boats, and a ‘burden’ tax were required to be paid. A burden tax was imposed on every man and had to be paid in the form of labor or military service.
Egyptian pharaohs required their servants to pay twice a year sometime around 3,000 B.C.
The French government began taxing wine in the 18th century, including taxes on the vine, taxes on the harvest, taxes on the manufacturer, taxes on the transport, and taxes on the sale of wine.
And for us it began in 1913 when Congress started taxing high-income earners. Anyone who made more than $3,000 ($4,000 for couples) was required to pay 1%. The percentage increased to 7% for anyone who had an income of $500,000 or more. This went so well they decided to tax everyone but the indigent.
It seems there has always been a need to generate revenue, such as for public works and to finance wars. Here are some examples:
Candle tax: Candlemakers during Colonial times were required to pay taxes on every single candle made. Defective or broken candles had to be destroyed in front of a tax official or taxes had to be paid on them.
Hearth tax: In England, the Crown expected its citizens to pay a hearth tax on all the fireplaces in a home. This led to the elimination of fireplaces in many rooms to avoid this tax.
Window tax: This replaced the hearth tax, which required time-consuming home inspections to count fireplaces. Homeowners were expected to pay a tax on every window in their home. This led to fewer windows being built, hidden windows, and windows being boarded up.
Beard tax: Russian Czar Peter the Great instigated this tax to discourage men from growing beards. He wanted the male citizens to look clean cut. Those who chose to sport a beard had to pay a tax and wear a big medallion as proof they had paid their tax.
***Don’t forget, taxes must be postmarked by midnight on Monday, April 16!***
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