Скачать или смотреть 5 Fun Facts About Taxes: You Won’t Believe What They Taxed in History

5 Fun Facts About Taxes: You Won’t Believe What They Taxes in History #shorts #funfacts

Time-traveling taxes: In ancient Rome, a tax called "vectigal" was levied on bachelors to encourage marriage and procreation. This tax was later abolished but, plot twist, it made a comeback in 2005 in Russia, when they considered a similar tax for unmarried men!

Shipwreck savings: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the British Empire imposed a tax on windows. To dodge this, many homeowners bricked up their windows. But what do shipwrecks have to do with this? The tax led to a rise in the use of smuggled goods from shipwrecks, making them a hot commodity for thrifty tax evaders.

Beard tax, anyone? In 1705, Russian Emperor Peter the Great implemented a beard tax to encourage men to adopt a clean-shaven look. Those who wanted to keep their beards had to pay a fee and carry a beard token as proof of payment!

Taxing body art: In the early 18th century, Lady Maria Coventry died of lead poisoning due to her excessive use of makeup. In response, the British government proposed a tax on makeup and wigs, hoping to reduce health risks. Instead, it inspired creative alternatives like patches to cover blemishes, which were also eventually taxed!

The birth of sliced bread: In the US, the 1943 "Sliced Bread Ban" was introduced to save on wax paper, used to wrap sliced bread. Taxes played a part in this ban, as the government hoped to save resources for the war effort. Thankfully, the ban only lasted a few months before sliced bread made its triumphant return, and we could once again enjoy the "best thing since sliced bread."