This essay that could go by the heading UK window tax the history of an ancient taxation system studies a system of taxation used in ancient times whose calculation criterion was the count of windows on a premise. Its introduction was precipitated by the numerous objections to the traditional income tax. For income tax purposes, individuals had to disclose their total earnings in a given duration something that opponents argued was an affront on individual privacy.
In counteracting the objections raised against the income tax system window tax was proposed. Its strength lay on the fact that wealthier individuals were more likely to own bigger premises which would therefore have a greater window count. This would be a better method of taxing individuals based on their earnings without having to declare their earnings. Supporters said that this would safeguard privacy of individuals while at the same time facilitating taxation.
This was a progressive system of taxing individuals. It was effected by King William in the UK as a method of getting funds for public spending. When introduced, it was made up of two parts. The first component was a standing charge of two shillings per house. This roughly translates to eleven pounds by current standards. The second part was a variable component that varied based on the count of windows in excess of ten windows.
The standing charge of two shillings per building could not be avoided. Every owner of a property had to at the very least foot this amount. This was theoretically the lowest amount any property owner would have to pay.
Window tax imposed some tax burden on individuals and people came up with means of evading it. The primary means of doing this was hiding the windows of a completed building with bricks. This would lower the number of windows in the given building thus making the property owner liable to a smaller amount of tax. This was practically the only way of avoiding this tax. No other method that could be practically successful was conceivable. The bricks used to cover the windows could be conveniently removed at later times to expose the hidden windows as per the wishes of the owner of the building.
Not everyone was liable for this new tax. Poor people were exempted from this tax. These also included individuals who owned houses but could be deemed to be poor as per the standards of living in the days the tax was imposed.
Windows tax has a number of advantages and disadvantages. One major advantage of windows tax advanced by proponents is that it respected the privacy of tax payers. Tax payers were not required to disclose financial details that they wished to keep to themselves. It was also in some way progressive and the rich could therefore bear a bigger tax burden than the poor. A disadvantage of this system however, is that most people resorted to drastic measures such as greatly reducing the number of windows in their homes depriving themselves of light.
UK window tax the history of an ancient taxation system shows how far modern taxation techniques have come from. It still provides invaluable lessons on how to tax individuals. It sheds light into the various ways of taxing individuals.
In counteracting the objections raised against the income tax system window tax was proposed. Its strength lay on the fact that wealthier individuals were more likely to own bigger premises which would therefore have a greater window count. This would be a better method of taxing individuals based on their earnings without having to declare their earnings. Supporters said that this would safeguard privacy of individuals while at the same time facilitating taxation.
This was a progressive system of taxing individuals. It was effected by King William in the UK as a method of getting funds for public spending. When introduced, it was made up of two parts. The first component was a standing charge of two shillings per house. This roughly translates to eleven pounds by current standards. The second part was a variable component that varied based on the count of windows in excess of ten windows.
The standing charge of two shillings per building could not be avoided. Every owner of a property had to at the very least foot this amount. This was theoretically the lowest amount any property owner would have to pay.
Window tax imposed some tax burden on individuals and people came up with means of evading it. The primary means of doing this was hiding the windows of a completed building with bricks. This would lower the number of windows in the given building thus making the property owner liable to a smaller amount of tax. This was practically the only way of avoiding this tax. No other method that could be practically successful was conceivable. The bricks used to cover the windows could be conveniently removed at later times to expose the hidden windows as per the wishes of the owner of the building.
Not everyone was liable for this new tax. Poor people were exempted from this tax. These also included individuals who owned houses but could be deemed to be poor as per the standards of living in the days the tax was imposed.
Windows tax has a number of advantages and disadvantages. One major advantage of windows tax advanced by proponents is that it respected the privacy of tax payers. Tax payers were not required to disclose financial details that they wished to keep to themselves. It was also in some way progressive and the rich could therefore bear a bigger tax burden than the poor. A disadvantage of this system however, is that most people resorted to drastic measures such as greatly reducing the number of windows in their homes depriving themselves of light.
UK window tax the history of an ancient taxation system shows how far modern taxation techniques have come from. It still provides invaluable lessons on how to tax individuals. It sheds light into the various ways of taxing individuals.
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