Why do we pay taxes?

[DrBeer]

"At first taxation system was introduced within the Gold Standard"

After this phrase you should add "but it's not certain" - no offense It's just that the history of taxation is "a little bit" older than the gold standard....

Some interesting facts about taxes and taxation.

1. Taxes appeared earlier than states. They existed already in the Neolithic period in the form of temple donations, were mandatory for all members of the community and were perceived by "payers" as an integral part of the system of the universe.

2. In ancient Rome, tax rates were revised every five years and depended on the activity of military actions. In peacetime no taxes were collected, and during the war they were compensated by the captured booty.

3. To replenish the treasury, depleted because of the war with Napoleon, English King George III introduced luxury taxes. They were paid by buyers of hats and cane tips.

4. To fill the treasury and stimulate population growth, the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus introduced a tax on celibacy and childlessness. For example, unmarried women aged 20-50 paid 1% of all their property annually.

5. The incentive for Norman merchants to embrace Islam was the complete exemption of converts from taxes on commercial transactions within the Arab world.

6. After the murder of her husband, Prince Igor, during the traditional tribute collection, Princess Olga carried out a tax reform in the middle of 946-7, in which a clear regulation of fees appeared, taxable administrative units "pogosts" were designated, and an apparatus of fiscal officials "tiuns" was established.

7. The first census in history, conducted by King William the Conqueror of England in 1088, was referred to by his subjects as the "Book of Dreadful Judgment," which caused them to pay more taxes to support the growing bureaucratic apparatus.

8. University professors and students were exempted from paying the land tally, the first universal direct tax introduced in 12th-century France, and were thus equated with the privileged classes of nobility and clergy.

9. One of the richest Florentines of the early XV century, merchant and banker Giovanni Morelli in his diary gave advice to his son to optimize taxation: "Hide your income from the authorities, always show only half of what you have".

10. At the time of the Golden Horde yoke in the lands of Kievan Rus paid "tyagar" in favor of the khan - a measure of wheat, two ropes, one coin, an arrow and a horseshoe.

9 out of 10 facts about taxes, occurs much earlier than the introduction of the "gold standard".

By the way, the question - and why in your opinion was introduced exactly the GOLD standard and not, for example, platinum, tungsten or other ? Isn't there someone's benefit in this and an attempt to make the whole world dependent on the "more successful position" of one of the participants of this standard? A question for reflection

[Peter90]

The US government borrows money by selling US Treasuries (federal debt).
The US government prints money.

Question:
Why does the US government need to borrow money if they print it?





12 millions klicks only from this account.
Many more considering re-tweeting.

Unbelievable

Got gold? 

[emmybd]

Everybody wants to pay taxes. Government meet its expenses and do all types of infrastructure, other development activities by collecting taxes on various sources. But in many developing and poor countries corrupt politicians use these funds for there own personal benefits. That is why people in these countries don't want to pay taxes

[Peter90]

Everybody wants to pay taxes.

Sure, I can't wait
Here in the neighbourhood every year when we finally can wire transfer the money to the tax agency people are so happy they make a huge party

[DrBeer]

Everybody wants to pay taxes. Government meet its expenses and do all types of infrastructure, other development activities by collecting taxes on various sources. But in many developing and poor countries corrupt politicians use these funds for there own personal benefits. That is why people in these countries don't want to pay taxes

On the one hand, I envy you very much ! It seems that you live in such a beautiful country, where such positive conditions for the life of citizens are created that they WANT to pay taxes ! That's wonderful ! It's actually a paradise on earth !
On the other hand, I can assume that you just mixed up the words "want" and "must"
I have seen countries both poor and rich, but they all have one thing in common - they MUST pay taxes, and everyone is trying to OPTIMIZE them. And some people break the law and use criminal schemes to hide income and not pay taxes

[Legion]

Everybody wants to pay taxes.

Sure, I can't wait
Here in the neighbourhood every year when we finally can wire transfer the money to the tax agency people are so happy they make a huge party

Which country is that? I really want to join in the party with the money generated from taxes. It seems like it would be really fun to waste people's money to have fun and toast until morning.