A Lesson in Taxes, Part 1: Taxes and Ancient Egypt

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 cruel oppressors and miserable slaves – that’s only the stigma we get from the story of Exodus, which formed at a time of turmoil in Egypt. Actual translations of Egyptian language indicate that life in ancient Egypt was usually bountiful and peaceful. The land was rich, men and women were equal and life was good for most. 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 mandates. Almost everything was taxed – sales, slaves, foreigners, imports, exports, and businesses. Agriculture was taxed at an astounding 20%. There was even a tax on cooking oil and inspectors would make continuous visits to kitchens to ensure that free drippings were not being wasted as opposed to the taxed oil.

The word “freedom” ironically in ancient times referred not to someone’s political or social liberty but to a person’s taxation level. If you were “free,” it meant that you didn’t have to pay 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 inconsiderate (at least in theory). They were told to be kind to the poor and defenseless. An example from an ancient translation states: “if a poor farmer is in trouble with his taxes, remit 2/3 of them.”

Another translation encourages scribes to “cheer up everyone and to put them into a good mood.”

And, if anyone 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 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/

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