Tax

A tax is a compulsory charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (e.g., tribes, secessionist movements or revolutionary movements). Taxes could also be imposed by a subnational entity.

A history of taxation

Political authority has been used to raise capital throughout history. In many pre-monetary societies, such as the Incan empire, taxes were owed in labor. Taxation in labour was the basis of the Feudal system in medieval Europe. King Solomon of the Old Testament pointed to the need for taxes to be applied for civil purposes (1 Kings 4:7; 9:15; 12:4), and these amounts were increased during times of foreign occupation.

Related Topics:
Incan empire - Feudal system - Europe - Solomon - Old Testament

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In more sophisticated economies such as the Roman Empire, tax farming developed, as the central powers could not practically enforce their tax policy across a wide realm. The tax farmers were obligated to raise large sums for the government, but were allowed to keep whatever else they raised. Many Christians have understood the New Testament to support the payment of taxes, through Jesus's words "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's". It is even recognized as a duty whether as a "telos" on merchandise or travelers (Matthew 17:25), an annual "phoros" on property tax (Luke 20:22;23:2), a "kensos" or poll tax (Matthew 22:17, Mark 12:14), or the tribute money of a temple-tax (Matthew 17:24-27). Other Christians, such as Christian anarchists, hold a contrary interpretation.

Related Topics:
Tax farming - New Testament - Jesus - Tribute - Christian anarchists

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There were certain times in the Middle Ages where the governments did not explicitly tax, since they were self supporting, owning their own land and creating their own products. The appearance of doing without taxes was however illusory, since the government's (usually the Crown's) independent income sources depended on labour enforced under the feudal system, which is a tax exacted in kind.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Crown

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Many taxes were originally introduced to fund wars and are still current today, such as those raised by the American government during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the telephone tax instigated at the start of World War I (War Tax Revenue Act of 1914). Income tax was first introduced into Britain in 1798 to pay for weapons and equipment in preparation for the Napoleonic wars and into Canada in 1917 as a "temporary" tax under the Income War Tax Act to cover government expenses resulting from World War I.

Related Topics:
Government - American Civil War - 1861 - 1865 - World War I - War Tax Revenue Act - 1914 - Income tax - 1798 - Napoleonic wars - 1917 - Income War Tax Act

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