History of Taxation, Part One: Taxation in Ancient Egypt
W. Marc Gilfillan, CPA, NC, individual and business CPA and Tax expert, shares about the history of taxes…
Ancient Egypt was not a land of cruel taskmasters and miserable slaves – that’s simply the stigma we get from the story of Exodus, which formed at a time of turmoil in Egypt. Modern translations of Egyptian language indicate that life in ancient Egypt was usually bountiful and relatively at peace. The land was fertile, men and women were equal and life was good for most. But, there were tax collectors, as numerous 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 mandates. Almost everything was taxed – sales, slaves, foreigners, imports, exports, and businesses. Agriculture was taxed at a hefty 20%. There was even a tax on cooking oil and scribes would make regular visits to kitchens to ensure that free drippings were not being wasted as opposed to the taxed oil.
The idea of “freedom” ironically in ancient Egypt referred not to one’s political or social liberty but to a person's taxation level. If you were “free,” it meant that you were exempt from taxation. Interestingly, the word is not 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. An example from an ancient translation states: “if a poor farmer is in trouble with his taxations, cut two-thirds of their taxes.”
Another translation admonishes scribes to “cheer up everyone and to place them into good humor.”
And, if anyone is suffering under pressures of their taxes, 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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