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

Ancient Egypt was not a place of cruel oppressors and oppressed slaves - that is only the impression we get from the tale of Moses, which came at a time of chaos in Egypt. Actual translations of Egyptian language indicate that life in ancient Egypt was usually pleasant and relatively at peace. The land was fertile, men and women were equal and life was enjoyed. Now, there were tax collectors, as numerous 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 everything was taxed - sales, slaves, foreign people, imports, exports, and businesses. Crops were taxed at a hefty 20%. There was even a charge on cooking oil and scribes would make regular visits to kitchens to make sure that free drippings were not being wasted instead of the taxed oil.

The word “freedom” ironically in ancient Egypt referred not to a person’s political or social liberty but to your taxation status. If you were “free,” it meant that you were exempt from taxation. Interestingly, the word cannot 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 not inconsiderate (at least in theory). They were taught to be kind to the poor and defenseless. One ancient text states: “if a poor farmer is in arrears with his taxations, remit two-thirds of them.”

Another translation admonishes scribes to “cheer up everyone and to place them into good humor.”

And, if anyone is struggling 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 that 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/