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Crazy & Unusual Taxes Around the World

Crazy& UNUSUAL TAXES AROUND THE WORLW £ $ £ $ £ 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 Il at £1,200,000 annually. BRICK TAX (1662 - 1689) 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. STOLEN PROPERTY TAX 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". 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. 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 win- dows, which led to health problems and the eventual repeal of the window tax over 150 years later. 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. RAIN TAX (2013 - CURRENT) Ten counties in Maryland will be paying for any structure that pre- vents rainwater from soaking into the ground - sidewalks, roofs, patios, driveways and more. This tax is sup- posed to support the Chesapeake Bay by preventing rainwater run-off. The tax rate is calculated and en- forced by satellite imagery. Ironi- cally, government buildings are exempt from the rain tax, while churches and non-profits aren’t! 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! FRUIT TAX (2009 - CURRENT) If you're buying California fruit from a vending machine in Cali- fornia, you're subject to a 33% tax. Ouch. Don't ask why anyone would buy fruit from a vending machine. 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. SLICED BAGEL TAX (2010 - CURRENT) A whole bagel is only subject to sales tax in New York. However, if a bagel is altered sliced, toa toppings or eaten in the store - you are subject to an %3D served with additional 8 cent tax. http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/about/ http://www.purelyshutters.co.uk/blog/purely-shutters/history-window-tax/ http://www.arct.cam.ac.uk/Downloads/chs/final-chs-vol. 13/chs-vol.13-pp.29-to-55.pdf http://www.efile.com/unusual-strange-funny-taxes-throughout-the-world-and-history/ http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4234990/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/25/bagel-tax-new-york_n_694361.html http://www.economicfreedom.org/2012/04/16/absurd-and-ridiculous-but-real-taxes/ http://ww http://www.history-magazine.com/wallpaper.html http://www.britglass.org.uk/history-of-glass http://www.radiolicence.org.uk/costlicence.html http://listverse.com/2010/08/19/top-10-truly-bizarre-taxes/ http://vectoropenstock.com outsiderclub.com/ne -and-ridiculous-taxes/185

Crazy & Unusual Taxes Around the World

shared by NickCobb on May 26
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From "hearth taxes" to "sliced bagel taxes," this graphic highlights some of the more bizarre taxes levied by rulers and governments in modern history.

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