A History of Tax Practices, Section 5: Tax and The Roman Empire

W. Marc Gilfillan

W. Marc Gilfillan, CPA, NC, individual and business CPA and Tax expert, shares about the history of taxes…

Now that we're moving away from the Greeks, we now come to the Romans. Historians often speak of Roman taxation as “more or less organized robbery” and Roman tax collectors as “a bunch of thieves.” However, Roman tax law was not always bad. There was a 200-year period at the peak of the Roman Empire when taxes were moderate. Actually, every kind of tax, as well as no taxes, marked the Roman period. Taxation was as vital yet as unpredictable in the Roman Empire as were the legions, the Senate and the Caesars. The arguably insane emperor Nero once offered to get rid of every indirect tax and make an "amazing present to the human race.” If you're feeling the pressure with today's taxes, call a Tax Preparer in Cary, NC for all your tax-related needs!

 

The Roman Republic – The Early Years

The early Roman Republic did not require much taxation because it operated with free labor. The army, which is arguably the greatest expense in any society, was a citizen’s army, comprised of land-owners who served for one year without pay. They even provided their own uniforms and equipment. This level of volunteer free public service extended to all government offices. Even the magistrates worked for the government without pay. It is difficult to conceive the validity of this ancient practice, especially in our individualistic society, where nobody seems willing to lift a finger for the government without a fat paycheck. Go here if you want help with modern-day Tax Preparation in Raleigh, NC.

The ideal method in reducing heavy taxation is to instil in every citizen a spirit of selfless service for the greater good. It isn't needed to curtail public programs and services; what is necessary is the curtailment of the spirit of gain and profit that infects public servants and contractors.

The Romans, similar to many ancient civilizations, used the important people of their civilization to deal with tax law. Taxpayers loved and admired these men, and no doubt the integrity of these important men rubbed off on the taxpayers. In contrast, modern tax practices use professional public relations officers to manipulate taxpayers with advertising techniques that utilize fear more than inspiration. Trouble started, however, when Roman armies lived off of the populace and collected tribute in block form called “stipendium”.

Keep an eye out for W. Marc Gilfillan's next chapter in his History of Taxes series: Taxes and the American Revolution.

http://www.marccpa.com/

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