I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “the only sure things in life are death and taxes.”

Well, you probably didn’t know how far governments throughout history have gone to make certain they took their fair share while you’re above ground.  Here’s just a short list of the many items that the tax man has seen fit to assess you for:

Cooking Oil – one of the first recorded taxes dates back to Ancient Egypt, when Pharaoh’s version of the IRS would go door-to-door to make sure citizens weren’t recycling or using bargain basement brands to avoid their tax on cooking oil.

Urine – The Romans found many practical uses for it as the ammonia contained was valued for tanning and laundering. That’s why Roman Emperors Nero and Vespasian fattened public coffers by taxing public urinals.

Beards – Hipsters take note… facial hair has been taxed not just once, but several times in history. King Henry the 8th of England introduced a levy on beards in 1535, which was carried on by his daughter Elizabeth the 1st as a “whisker tax.”  In 1698, Russia’s Peter the Great required every bearded man to purchase a coin imprinted with the words “the beard is a superfluous burden.”

And what proved to be one of the least popular taxes of all time…

Gin – In 1736 the British Gin Act passed, putting a tax of 20 shilling per drink as well as a 50 Pound assessment for an annual license for those who dispensed (a fee equivalent to $10,500 today).  Riots ensued and moonshiners flourished. The tax was repealed in 1743.

It’s true that we’re always going to have to deal with taxes of one kind or another, crazy or not so much so.  That’s why it’s so important to work with a team focused on doing everything “by the book” to keep your portfolio and your future as sane and prosperous as possible. Call us today at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online for your free review.

Regards,
Dan Cuprill, CFP®