7 days ago
7 most bizarre taxes from history that actually existed
Taxes are a part of life, and while modern ones like income or sales tax are familiar, history has seen some truly bizarre and surprising forms of taxation. Through the ages, governments have found unexpected ways to raise revenue, sometimes through targeting things as ordinary as beards or something as mood-lifting as playing cards.
When we look back at some of these most unusual taxes, they often tell us about the society and priorities of the time, symbolising class structures, cultural norms, and also fashion trends. And while some taxes were designed to encourage conformity, others to stop some practices, and many just to squeeze more funds from the population.
Many of these taxes eventually disappeared due to public backlash or impractical enforcement, leaving an interesting story in the record books. Here are seven of the strangest real taxes that existed in history
The urine tax in Ancient Rome
This was almost just as the Ancient Romans taxed pee! Introduced under Emperors Nero and Vespasian, the urine tax was placed on the buyers of urine, which was used at the time for tanning leather, laundering clothes, and even teeth whitening.
Collectors of public urine were required to pay tax since it became a profitable commodity. The Latin phrase Pecunia non olet meaning 'money does not stink', reportedly originated from this, telling that profit was more important than how it was made.
The beard tax in Russia and England
Emperor Peter the Great of Russia, in 1698, wanted his people to adopt a more European look. So, he taxed facial hair. Those who wanted to keep their beards had to pay a fee and carry a beard token as proof. Earlier, Henry VIII had also taxed beards in England. As a result, beards became a symbol of status, meaning if you had one, you could afford to pay for it!
The cowardice tax
In medieval England, knights could avoid going to war by paying a tax called scutage, often mockingly called the "cowardice tax."
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Undo
It started around the 1100s, letting landowning knights stay home rather than fight. Over time, it became a more general land tax and was eventually phased out by the 14th century. While this tax seemed practical, it often exposed the social tensions between duty and privilege.
Window tax
First introduced in England in 1696, the window tax was meant to tax wealthier homeowners who had more windows. But in crowded urban areas, it hit the poor hard too.
To avoid paying, people bricked up their windows, leading to dark, poorly ventilated homes. This unhealthy condition led to public anger and was a major reason the tax was repealed in 1851.
Playing card and dice tax
It is true that there was a tax on fun. From the 16th century, and raised significantly in 1710, England taxed playing cards and dice. Cards became more expensive, leading to widespread forgery. The tax was charged until 1960.
The wallpaper tax
In 1712, Britain imposed a tax on patterned or decorated wallpaper, viewing it as a luxury and a way to target wealthier homeowners.
To get around this, people began buying plain paper and hiring artists to paint designs directly on their walls. The tax stayed put until 1836.
Clock and watch tax
Back in 1797, Britain decided to put a tax on timepieces, including watches and clocks, specifically the ones made of precious metals! This was done to collect more revenue, as most clocks and watches were owned by the rich. Rates depended on how fancy the timepiece was, as gold ones cost more, of course. But people weren't happy. As clock owners and watchmakers pushed back hard. The tax caused so much frustration and avoidance that it was dropped just a year later, in 1798.
