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

Ancient Egypt was not a land of terrible taskmasters and oppressed slavery – that’s simply the impression we get from the story of Moses, which came at a time of unrest in Egypt. Modern translations of Egyptian language indicate that life in ancient Egypt was usually pleasant and peaceful. The land was rich, women and men had roughly equal rights and life was enjoyed. But, there were tax collectors, as many as “the sands of the seas”. The order of Egyptian life was kept by these “scribes” whose job was enforcing the pharaoh’s tax policies. Most all aspects of life were taxed – sales, slaves, foreign people, imports, exports, and businesses. Agriculture was taxed at a hefty 20%. There was also a tax on cooking oil and inspectors would make continuous visits to kitchens to ensure that free drippings were not being wasted instead of the taxed oil.

The word “freedom” ironically in ancient Egypt referred not to someone’s political or social liberty but to your taxation level. If you were “free,” it meant that you paid no taxes. Interestingly, the word can’t be 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 brutal (at least in theory). They were taught to be kind to the poor and defenseless. One ancient text instructs: “if a poor farmer is in arrears with his taxations, cut 2/3 of them.”

Another translation admonishes scribes to “lighten up everyone and to place them into a good mood.”

And, if someone is suffering under the stress of their taxes, 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 called “philanthropa”. From this word we get the word philandthropy.

Over the 3000 years of the Egyptian empire, there were many times 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/