TAX HISTORY
It is probably not a coincidence that this civilization, also credited for the invention of writing, is thought to be responsible for inventing the formal concept of taxation.
Who were the Sumerians?
Mostly notorious for his extensive catalog of other crimes, this infamous gangster could only be sent to prison for tax evasion.
Who was Al Capone?
Think being brilliant is enough to figure out taxes? This Nobel laureate, mostly known for developing the theory of relativity and his contributions to the field of quantum mechanics, is quoted to have said “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”
Who was Albert Einstein?
“No taxation without representation” was the motto of this 1773 non-alcoholic Beantown rager.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
This home state of our current president is so popular for its low corporate tax that half of all publicly traded companies in the US are registered here.
What is Delaware?
An early example of tax collection dates to 3000 to 2800 BCE when this person, both the head of their state and the living incarnation of the god Horus traveled around the country to make sure people paid up.
Who was the Pharaoh?
This country legend, cannabis aficionado and self-described outlaw recorded an album called the IRS Tapes to cover his tax debts.
Who is Willie Nelson?
Be prepared to pay an 18% to 28% entertainment tax when going to the box office in this country, the home of Bollywood.
What is India?
The total amount general Electric paid in US taxes in 2010 after making $4,000,000,000 in profit.
What is $0?
Also known as the Land of Enchantment, this US jurisdiction frees centenarians from paying state income taxes.
What is New Mexico?
The text on this monumentally important archeological find which was key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics is mostly about taxes.
What is the Rosetta Stone?
Snitches don’t always get stiches! Reportedly, the IRS pays up to 30% on amounts recovered to persons who do this.
What is reporting tax evasion?
Eritrea and this country are the only two jurisdictions that require citizens to pay income taxes on money earned while living abroad.
What are the United States of America?
Because tax preparation used to be simpler Tax Day used to be earlier. Between 1919 and 1955 your green was due to the government on this date, two days before getting to drink green beer.
What is March 15?
To ensure its residents serving in the military wouldn’t have to pay a peacetime tax on their $10 per month bonus this home state of Ben, Bernie and Jerry declared war on Germany in 1941, three months before the United States did.
What is Vermont?
The word “tax” comes from the “taxo”, which literally means “I estimate” in this language.
What is Latin?
Angry to pay sales taxes on your new Stetson, cowboy? It’s all a matter of perspective. In 1798 Englishman John Collins was sentenced to death for using his printing press to forge stamps enabling people to get out of paying taxes on this men’s fashion accessory.
What are (men's) hats?
When Romania passed a new labor code in 2011 income from work in this “profession” mostly known for potions, brooms and pointy hats became taxable, resulting in many curses cast on the government in response.
What are witches/witchcraft?
US Taxes were not always withheld from your paycheck. Until 1943 people paid their taxes in an annual lump sum. This changed because the government suddenly required a steady stream of cash to fund this effort.
What was World War II?
In celebration of the state’s favorite constitutional amendment Mississippi has an annual sales tax holiday encouraging purchases of these items.
What are guns & ammo?
While traveling around Western Europe tsar Peter the Great noted that most European men at the time preferred a clean-shaven look. As a result he introduced this new tax in 1698.
What was a beard tax?
Former IRS commissioner Joseph Nunan was sentenced to five years in prison for tax evasion. Among the transactions he failed to claim were $1,800 in winnings from a wager that this sitting president would beat challenger Thomas Dewey in the general election.
Who was Harry Truman?
In 1696 England and Wales introduced a new property tax on the number of this feature a house had. As a result, many households got rid of as many of them as they could and started living in dark, stuffy homes.
What were windows?
In 1935 the US tax code’s highest income tax bracket of 63% only applied to this one person.
Who was Nelson Rockefeller?
This “brewer patriot” was elected to Boston’s tax collector post in 1756. Prone to overlooking tax debts from people in financial and medical difficulties he was held personally liable for more than £8,000 in unpaid taxes, £1,500,000 in today’s money.
Who was Samuel Adams?