Welcome back to another volume of Strange But True Taxes, From Around the World. Where we look at surprising, but real, tax rules throughout history. Some are from long ago &, thankfully, got voted out by wiser minds. Some are from nowadays, & still very much alive & wreaking havoc on taxpayers’ pocketbooks. But, regardless, they are all weird & all just a way to squeeze more money from the citizens they target.
- Bachelor Tax
First imposed back in 1820, the state of Missouri charges a tax for all bachelors. All unmarried men between the ages of 21-50 years old must pay a tax of $1 a year. Many countries, like Germany, South Africa, & Italy, have had similar taxes in the past, but most have abolished them by now.
- Pet Tax
At the end of 2017, the Punjab government imposed a tax on the owners of domestic animals. There are 2 types of tax fees. They charge Rs 250 a year for owning a dog, cat, sheep, pig, & deer. Rs 500 per annum is owed for elephant, camel, cow, horse, buffalo, or bull.
- BlueberryTax
In the state of Maine, a tax is levied on the sale of wild blueberries, one of the state’s most important agricultural crops. This is done to help stop over-harvesting, so the plants can thrive. The tax is equal to 1 ½ pennies per pound of blueberries.
- Ice Block Tax
The state of Arizona charges a tax on bulk sales of ice (or blocks). Ironically, ice cubes are exempt from this tax, though.
- Jock Tax
Many states in the U.S., like California, charge a tax on pro athletes. In an effort to make back some of the money these athletes are showered with when they play against their teams, these states charge taxes on whatever the athletes make when they are playing there.
- Pumpkin Tax
In the state of New Jersey, pumpkins are tax exempt, as a food item. However, if they are “painted, varshined, or cut & sold as decorations”, they are subject to tax fees.
- Window Tax
During the 18th & 19th centuries, England, Scotland, France, & Ireland imposed a tax on the number of windows you had in your house. It was meant to target rich people, who lived in mansions with lots of windows. People found a way around these rules, & the taxes were later repealed, altogether.
- Tattoo Tax
Many countries don’t charge extra taxes if you choose to express yourself through tattoos. But, since 2002, the state of Arkansas has charged an extra 6% sales tax if you get permanently inked.
- Hat Tax
Similar to the Window Tax, the British government charged taxes on hats between 1784 & 1811. The theory was that wealthy men would own lots of expensive hats, as opposed to poor men, who could only afford one or two.
- Toilet Flush Tax
To keep water-consumption under control, the state of Maryland charges tax for excess toilet flushing. At the rate of $5/month (or $60 annually), the money raised is used to develop Maryland’s sewage-treatment system.
- Cowardice Tax
During the 10th century, to raise money to fight their wars, kings imposed a “cowardice tax” on people who wouldn’t fight for any reason. When the tax was first levied by King Henry I, it was relatively low, but King John later raised it by 300%.
Thankfully, some of these hairbrained tax laws are no longer on the books, but there are still plenty of ridiculous laws out there. All in an attempt to “stick it to the little guy”. Rest assured, the government will keep trying to get taxes out of us. And, people will always figure out the loopholes around said laws.
