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