Earned Income Tax Credit | A History of Taxation, Part One: Taxation in Ancient Egypt

A History of Taxation, Part One: Taxation in Ancient Egypt

W. Marc Gilfillan

W. Marc Gilfillan, CPA, NC, individual and business CPA and Tax expert, shares about the history of taxes…

Ancient Egypt wasn’t a place of cruel taskmasters and oppressed slavery – that is only the stigma we get from the tale of Moses, which came at a time of turmoil in Egypt. Modern translations of hieroglyphics tell a tale of life in ancient Egypt was usually bountiful and relatively at peace. The land was rich, women and men were equal and life was enjoyed. But, there were tax collectors, as many as “the sands of the seas”. The order of Egyptian life was maintained by these “scribes” whose job was enforcing the pharaoh’s tax mandates. Most all aspects of life were taxed – sales, slaves, foreigners, imports, exports, and businesses. Crops were taxed at an astounding 20%. There was even a tax on cooking oil and scribes 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 someone’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 is not 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 taught to act kindly towards the poor and defenseless. An example from an ancient text instructs: “if a poor farmer is in arrears with his taxes, remit 2/3 of their taxes.”

Another translation admonishes officials to “cheer up everyone and to direct them into good humor.”

And, if anyone is suffering under the pressure of taxation, 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 this word we get the word philandthropy.

Over the 3000 years of the Egyptian empire, there were many periods 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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