When Did Taxes Start?

In the simplest of terms, taxation funds government operations. Taxation as a form of fundraising can be found in every civilized society throughout the world, and without it, governments would fail and civilization as we know it would not exist.

The Roots of Taxation

Taxation in some form has been around as long as we have recorded history. The Egyptians taxed cooking oil, the Greeks taxed foreigners and the Romans developed a tax system that would tax everything. These early societies, while the method was different, used taxation to fund one common thing, their military and the defense of their country.

Development of Taxation

The Romans knew that the growth of their nation was dependant on the size of their military. They needed money for their military, and taxation was the key. They developed import and export taxes as well as inheritance and sales taxes, so they could collect from their citizens as well as those wishing to do business with them. As their wealth grew, their military grew and so did the Roman Empire.

As the Romans occupied England, they brought with them their ideas of taxation. When the Roman Empire eventually fell, taxation stayed and took root throughout Great Britain. At first, only the wealthy were being taxed, however, it eventually was pushed onto the poor. Excessive taxation of the poor left many unable to feed their families. People trying to avoid the extreme pressure of taxation began to move to a new world, and Colonial America was born (A History of Taxation).

U.S. Tax System

The new citizens were not against taxation, they were against the oppressive and corrupt Government uses of taxation. As with many of its predecessors, U.S. Taxation was developed in order to support the military and its efforts. The first income tax imposed in the U.S. was in 1861, when the Civil War began, as "it was clear the war would not end quickly." As the war began to subside, so did the need for additional revenue, and by 1872, "the income tax was abolished." This would set the stage for future taxation in the United States Government (Department of the Treasury).

Taxes and Turmoil

Governmental taxation of its citizens never comes without a cost. People have rebelled against taxation and its abuse since its inception. From the Queen of East Anglia's fight against corrupt Roman tax collectors in 60 A.D., to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791 in Colonial America, citizens have always fought back when governments overstep their bounds. While most citizens disagree on the amount of taxation needed, most agree that there is a need for some form of taxation.

The Need for Taxation

While corrupt Governments have used taxation to oppress citizens, a need for this form of fundraising still exists. Tax-generated revenues are used to promote social welfare, build our defenses, educate our children, rebuild our roads, feed our poor and stimulate our economy. Paying taxes is a simple way we all share in the costs associated with living in a civilized society.

References

• A History of Taxation
• Department of the Treasury

Resources

• Internal Revenue Service