The World’s Unusual Taxes

 All governments collect taxes on income, property, goods, and services to support public services and infrastructure. However, besides the usual taxes that we all know, in some countries there have been many strange taxes. When you learn about them, it’s hard to believe that someone could ever suggest them. However, those unique taxes are not fake; they reflect the interesting and sometimes odd history of taxation.This article is about the weirdest taxes from history and around the globe.

Beard Taxes

This is one of the most peculiar taxes in history. During the 16th and 17th centuries, England and Russia had a strange tax called the beard tax. King Henry VIII and Peter the Great wanted fewer people to wear beards, so they made a rule: people with beards had to pay a tax. Many people didn’t like this rule and made fun of it, but  it lasted for a while. 

Window Taxes

Window taxes, also known as glass taxes or daylight taxes, were introduced  in various European countries during the 18th and 19th centuries. These taxes were based on the number of windows in a property. Homeowners were required to pay a levy for each window. The rationale behind window taxes was to generate revenue for governments and  discourage the construction of large windows, which were seen as a sign of luxury. Window taxes resulted in darker and less ventilated living spaces. 

Cow Flatulence Tax

In recent years, concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change have led to the proposal of some unusual environmental taxes. One such tax is the cow flatulence tax. Denmark and New Zealand proposed and promoted this kind of taxation. The idea behind it is to levy a charge on livestock farmers for the methane emissions produced by cows’. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas. Taxing cow flatulence was suggested as a method to encourage farmers to either have fewer livestock or to use technologies that lower methane emissions

Bagel Tax

In the 1980s, New York tried to put a tax on sliced bagels. Officials were saying bagels were like prepared food and should be taxed. However, the proposal was met with widespread public outrage. The bagel tax was ultimately abandoned. But this story shows how far governments might go to make money.

Jousting Tournaments Tax

Jousting tournaments were big events in medieval times. Both rich and poor people wanted to see these shows. Some European rulers taxed tournaments. People who wanted to compete or watch it had to pay a tax. 

Hat Tax

In the 1700s, the government in England put a tax on hats, especially those made from beaver fur. People didn’t like this tax, and it caused problems for both hat makers and buyers. After many complaints and protests, the tax was removed. 

Salt Tax

Salt used to be a precious asset. It was used for preserving food and even as a kind of money. Throughout history, governments have taxed salt. Some countries kept salt taxes for a long time. Kings and queens put taxes on making and trading salt. Such taxes led to a situation where some people obtained a monopoly on salt and others smuggled it. 

Playing Card Tax

England introduced a tax on playing cards in the 18th century. Each deck had to have a tax stamp to prove the tax had been paid. Those caught with unstamped cards faced severe penalties. Nevertheless, there was a flourishing black market for playing cards in England then.

Sunshine Tax

This is not a tax in the traditional sense. The term “sunshine tax” refers to the higher cost of living in places with better weather. It’s often discussed in the context of real estate and living expenses in areas known for their sunny climates.  Even though this isn’t a government-imposed tax, it is a good example of how natural advantages, like sunshine, can affect economic decisions.

All those taxes show us that governments throughout history have devised strange ways to raise money and control their populations. You might think that times have changed and modern societies would never allow their governments to implement such peculiar methods of filling the budget. But in fact, we are not immune to this. As times change, we can expect to see more unusual taxes, contributing to the fascinating history of taxation.