| Originally it was the Egyptians who | | | | Julius Caesar's sales tax of 1% to 4% |
| invented the system of Taxes. They | | | | for slaves and 1% for everything else. |
| appointed Tax Masters, whose job it was | | | | The first tax-free shipping port at |
| to increase the burden on the slaves | | | | Delos was created in the 4th century |
| under the Egyptian domination. Tax | | | | B.C. The shipping port is known as the |
| collectors, also known as Scribes, were | | | | first "Tax Haven" in history. It |
| drawn on tomb paintings dating as far | | | | diverted traffic from Rhodes. Roman |
| back as 2000 B.C. | | | | Emperor, Vespasian, expanded taxes |
| They taxed simple things such as the use | | | | during the 1st century A.D. He created |
| of cooking oil in family meals, as well | | | | the Fiscus Judaicus, known as the Tax on |
| as other aspects of daily life. They | | | | Jews, as well as a tax to use urine for |
| accomplished this by auditing households | | | | cleaning or tanning leather. An |
| and checking that the correct amount of | | | | inheritance tax of 10% was enforced on |
| cooking oil was being consumed. They | | | | all Roman Citizens in 212 A.D. |
| also ensured that residents were not | | | | The Queen of Englia, Boadicea led a |
| using methods of cooking other than the | | | | revolt, which can be credited to corrupt |
| taxed oil. | | | | tax collectors in 60 A.D. The revolt |
| Greece adopted the tax system from the | | | | allegedly killed over 80,000 people, |
| Egyptians and used it in Athens during | | | | including all the Roman soldiers within |
| times of war. They created a tax, known | | | | 100 miles. She managed to seize London |
| as eisphora, which was used to pay for | | | | during the process and raised an army of |
| special wartime expenditures. They | | | | 230,000. Emperor Nero finally managed to |
| stopped the tax system once the | | | | stop the revolt and appointed new |
| emergency war was over. Once additional | | | | administrators for the British region. |
| resources were gained by the war effort | | | | Lady Godiva caused a bit of disturbance |
| they refunded the tax. Greece is one of | | | | herself in the 11th Century. According |
| the few societies that managed to | | | | to legend she rode through town naked on |
| maintain this system. Foreigners where | | | | horseback, as part of a deal that she |
| taxed in Athens under the metoikion tax. | | | | had made with her husband, Leofric, the |
| Ancient Rome took on the tax system and | | | | Earl of Mercia. He had promised to |
| included sales taxes, and inheritance | | | | reduce the taxes if she went through |
| tax, as well as tax on imports and | | | | with the dare. The residents of |
| exports. Caesar Augustus is considered | | | | Coventry, where the tax was reduced, |
| as one of the best tax strategists of | | | | honoured her for her courage. |
| the Roman Empire. During his reign as | | | | From then on countries battled and |
| "First Citizen", he made cities | | | | fought over different types of taxes. |
| responsible for collecting taxes, | | | | Eventually each country began editing |
| instead of allocating the task to tax | | | | its own tax system to suit its needs. |
| collectors from central government. He | | | | They expanded the tax system, dropping |
| created an inheritance tax of 5%, which | | | | smaller taxes for bigger ones, until |
| resulted in all military costs being | | | | eventually we have the system we have |
| paid for. This inspired the English and | | | | today. |
| Dutch to make similar taxes in later | | | | Celeste writes for an online company |
| years. | | | | whose client is Financial and Insurance |
| During Julius Caesar's reign, sales tax | | | | News, who specialize in news about |
| was enforced. Caesar Augustus changed | | | | insurance, networking and tax. |