Crazy & Unusual Taxes Around the World

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Hearth Tax

1662 – 1689

Two shillings for each fireplace or stove was the tax Parliament levied on the British people to support the Royal Household of King Charles II at £1,200,000 annually. This tax was resented by the people as it permitted the tax assessor to enter your home for inspection at any time.

Source: https://www.hearthtax.org.uk

Brick Tax

1784 – 1850

Taxed at 4 shillings per thousand bricks, this tax funded the war in the American Colonies. Masons manufactured larger bricks to alleviate the tax, which prompted Parliament to restrict brick sizes and raise the tax to 5 shillings and 10 pennies. New buildings were made from lumber and weatherboarding, instead of bricks, which ultimately led to a repeal of the brick tax and the English construction economy took a boost as a result.

Source: https://www.arct.cam.ac.uk/Downloads/chs/final-chs-vol.13/chs-vol.13-pp.29-to-55.pdf

Stolen Property Tax

2012

The IRS’s 1040 instructions indicate that you should list any stolen property gained during the previous year. However, since this would be self-incrimination, which is protected by the Constitution, you may report stolen property as “other income”.

Source: https://www.efile.com/unusual-strange-funny-taxes-throughout-the-world-and-history/

Pet Tax

2009 – 2013

In Durham County, NC, you must declare your pets as personal property, obtain a license and pay an annual fee. Spot and Fluffy’s taxes were $10 each if spayed or neutered, or $75 each if they weren’t fixed.

Source: https://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4234990/

Window Tax

1696 – 1851

This was considered to be a fair tax by the British Parliament, since the rich had larger homes and thus more windows. However, the people avoided the tax by bricking up windows, which led to health problems and the eventual repeal of the window tax over 150 years later.

Source: https://www.purelyshutters.co.uk/blog/purely-shutters/history-window-tax/

Television Tax

1946 – Current

If you own a TV, you must buy an annual TV license to support the BBC – £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for black and white. Even if you are blind, you must pay half the annual fee! Failure to pay can result in criminal penalties. In 2012 there were 155,000 convictions for TV tax evasion.

Source: https://www.radiolicence.org.uk/costlicence.html

Rain Tax

2013 – Current

Ten counties in Maryland will be paying for any structure that prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground – sidewalks, roofs, patios, driveways and more. This tax is supposed to support the Chesapeake Bay by preventing rainwater run-off. The tax rate is calculated and enforced by satellite imagery. Ironically, government buildings are exempt from the rain tax, while churches and non-profits aren’t!

Source: https://www.outsiderclub.com/new-and-ridiculous-taxes/185

Hat Tax

1784 – 1811

This tax was intended to raise revenue for the government in accordance with each man’s wealth, as it was supposed that wealthy men bought more hats. The tax was imposed on both the seller and buyer, with stiff fines for tax evasion. The death penalty was even used for those who forged the tax license at a business or a stamp inside hats! Understandably, the hat tax eventually made mens hats unpopular.

Source: https://listverse.com/2010/08/19/top-10-truly-bizarre-taxes/

Fruit Tax

2009 – Current

If you’re buying California fruit from a vending machine in California, you’re subject to a 33% tax. Ouch. Don’t ask why anyone would buy fruit from a vending machine.

Source: https://www.economicfreedom.org/2012/04/16/absurd-and-ridiculous-but-real-taxes/

Wallpaper Tax

1712 – 1836

Painted, printed or patterned wallpaper was taxed at one penny per square yard and in 1809 that rose to one shilling per yard. In today’s currency value, that’s £3.07 per yard. Like most taxes, the people found a way to circumvent it – buying untaxed, plain wallpaper and stenciling or painting it themselves.

Source: https://www.history-magazine.com/wallpaper.html

Sliced Bagel Tax

2010 – Current

A whole bagel is only subject to sales tax in New York. However if a bagel is altered – sliced, toasted, served with toppings or eaten in the store – you are subject to an additional 8 cent tax.

Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/25/bagel-tax-new-york_n_694361.html