History of Taxes, Part 1: Taxes and 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 terrible oppressors and oppressed slavery – that’s simply the impression we get from the tale of Moses, which formed at a time of chaos in Egypt. Modern translations of Egyptian language indicate that life in ancient Egypt was usually bountiful and relatively at peace. The land was rich, women and men were equal and life was good for most. Now, 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. Most everything was taxed – sales, slaves, foreign people, imports, exports, and businesses. Crops were taxed at an astounding 20%. There was also a charge on cooking oil and inspectors would make continuous visits to kitchens to ensure that free drippings were not being wasted as opposed to the taxed oil.
The word “freedom” ironically in ancient times did not refer to a person’s political or social liberty but to a person’s tax status. If you were “free,” it meant that you paid no taxes. Interestingly, the word can’t be 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 never inconsiderate (at least in theory). They were told to be kind towards the poor and defenseless. One ancient text instructs: “if a poor farmer is in arrears with his taxes, remit 2/3 of them.”
Another translation admonishes officials to “cheer up everyone and to put them into good humor.”
And, if anyone is suffering under the pressure 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 that we get the word philandthropy.
Over the 3000 years of the Egyptian empire, there were many times 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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