History of Taxation, Part 1: Taxes and Ancient Egypt
W. Marc Gilfillan, CPA, NC, individual and business CPA and Tax expert, shares about the history of taxes…
Ancient Egypt wasn't a place of cruel taskmasters and oppressed slavery – that’s only the stigma we get from the tale of Exodus, which came at a time of chaos in Egypt. Actual translations of Egyptian language indicate that life in ancient Egypt was usually bountiful and relatively at peace. The land was rich, men and women had roughly equal rights and life was enjoyed. Now, there were tax collectors, as many as “the sands of the seas”. The high level of Egyptian life was kept by these "scribes" who were charged with enforcing the pharaoh’s tax policies. Almost everything was taxed – sales, slaves, foreign people, imports, exports, and businesses. Crops were taxed at an astounding 20%. There was even a charge on cooking oil and scribes would make continuous visitations to kitchens to ensure that free drippings were not being wasted as opposed to the taxed oil.
The idea of “freedom” ironically in ancient times did not refer to someone's political or social liberty but to a person's tax status. If you were “free,” it meant that you paid no taxes. Ironically, the word can't be found anywhere in the Egyptian language. Good thing we live in this time eh? Go here if you want help with modern-day Tax Preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll in Cary NC.
However, the scribes were not brutal (at least in theory). They were taught to act kindly towards the poor and defenseless. One ancient translation states: “if a poor farmer is in trouble with his taxations, cut 2/3 of them.”
Another text admonishes officials to “cheer up everyone and to direct them into good humor.”
And, if anyone is suffering under the pressure of taxation, or is at the end of his means to pay them, you must let the case go unchecked.” If you're feeling the pressure with today's taxes, call a Raleigh NC Accountant for all your tax-related needs!
This lenient policy was coined “philanthropa”. From this word we get the word philandthropy.
Over the 3000 years of the Egyptian empire, there were many periods of humane and decent tax administration.
Keep an eye out for W. Marc Gilfillan's next chapter in his History of Taxes series: Taxes and the Greeks. http://www.marccpa.com/
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