Buzz
The adage that nothing is certain except death and taxes is frequently cited. However, a subtle detail often missed is that “taxes” is plural, while “death” is singular. This distinction makes perfect sense—we die once but are taxed repeatedly, often paying multiple taxes simultaneously.
Many of us fail to recognize that certain nations enforce absurd taxes on their populations. For those already burdened by one odd tax or another, the extent of absurdity might be underestimated. Prepare to be astonished by the bizarre taxes imposed in other parts of the world.
10. Social Media Tax – Uganda
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, justified the tax as a measure to combat gossip on social media. When he initially proposed the tax, he claimed that the revenue generated would help the country “address the repercussions of gossiping.”
The tax has faced significant backlash in Uganda, with citizens arguing that it infringes on their right to free speech. This isn’t the first instance of Museveni restricting social media; in 2016, he blocked access to all social media platforms during elections, citing concerns over the spread of falsehoods.
9. Blogging Tax – Tanzania
If you plan to blog in Tanzania, be prepared to pay an annual fee of $440 to the government. This requirement stems from a new law enacted under the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations on March 16, 2018, which mandates that all online content creators obtain a license and pay a yearly tax.
While bloggers are the primary targets, the law extends to social media users, online forum participants, video and podcast creators, online radio and television broadcasters, and even subscribers to online content.
In addition to the tax, bloggers and online content creators must register with the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority and pledge to avoid posting offensive material, including pornography, nudity, violence, hate speech, fake news, and content featuring “inappropriate language” or anything deemed irritating.
The initial registration fee is 100,000 Tanzanian shillings ($44). Following this, bloggers and online creators must pay an annual license fee of one million Tanzanian shillings ($440), starting from the year they obtain their license.
The license must be renewed annually at the same cost. Failure to comply can result in a fine of at least five million Tanzanian shillings (approximately $2,500), a 12-month prison sentence, or both.
8. Dog Tax – Switzerland
If you reside in Switzerland and have a dog, ensure you pay the annual dog tax—or risk having your pet confiscated or worse. The tax amount varies based on the dog’s size, and in some municipalities, guide and rescue dogs may be exempt or qualify for a reduced rate.
As with any tax, some individuals attempt to evade payment. To enforce compliance, officials in Reconvilier, a village with 280 dogs, warned that dogs whose owners failed to pay the tax would be shot. At the time, the annual tax in the municipality averaged $48.50.
The threat to euthanize dogs wasn’t a new idea. A 1904 law permitted the government to kill dogs belonging to owners who refused to pay the tax. This practice continued until the 1960s when the law was softened. However, Reconvilier, facing financial difficulties, reinstated the law to ensure tax collection.
Ironically, Pierre-Alain Nemitz, the head of the village council, received death threats after the council announced its enforcement of the law.
7. Church Tax – Germany
In Germany, Catholics and Protestants are required to pay a tax on their income to support their respective churches. This tax, amounting to 8–9% of their capital gains (profits from asset sales), is collected by the government and distributed to the churches. With 30.8% (24.7 million) of the population identifying as Catholic and 30.3% (24.3 million) as Protestant, this tax generates significant revenue for both churches.
The sole way to avoid the tax is to formally renounce membership in the church. However, this decision comes with drawbacks. Germans who leave the Catholic or Protestant Church forfeit certain privileges, such as the right to a religious burial, access to state-funded daycare, and enrollment in church-owned or certain state-operated schools.
Additionally, Catholics who leave the church can no longer participate in confession or receive communion. They also lose the opportunity for the anointing of the sick unless they are nearing death.
Despite these consequences, many Germans choose to leave the church to avoid the tax. Each year, over 100,000 individuals officially exit each church. In 2014, this number nearly doubled after the government closed a loophole that allowed citizens to evade the tax by not reporting capital gains.
6. Breathing Tax – Venezuela
Venezuela doesn’t directly tax breathing, but it has introduced a unique “breathing tax” of 127 bolivars ($20) for passengers departing from Maiquetia International Airport in Caracas. The government claims this tax helps cover the expenses of the airport’s new air filtration system.
The Ministry of Water and Air Transport explained that the filtration system cleans and deodorizes the airport, preventing the growth of bacteria and safeguarding passenger health. However, many Venezuelans ridiculed the tax on social media, viewing it as a sign of the airport’s financial struggles and desperate attempts to generate revenue.
5. Smartphone and Tablet Tax – France
In 2013, France proposed a 1% tax on smartphones and tablets to support the production of French films, music, and visual arts. This tax aligns with the cultural exception policy established in 1993, which required broadcasters to contribute to funding French cultural initiatives.
However, as the internet gained popularity, many broadcasters shifted away from traditional media, avoiding the tax. This undermined efforts to protect French culture from the dominance of US films.
The proposed tax was part of a budget bill set for review by the French parliament in November 2013. However, there has been no update on whether the legislation was ultimately approved.
4. Tax on Bribes, Stolen Goods, and Illegal Income – United States
If you’re a US citizen earning income through illegal means or have received a one-time bribe, federal law requires you to pay taxes on it.
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) mandates that bribes be declared as income and taxed accordingly. Similarly, income from illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, must also be reported, with the appropriate taxes paid.
In theft cases, the thief is required to pay taxes based on the stolen item’s current market value. The only exception is if the stolen property is returned within the same year it was taken.
Taxing illegal income is a contentious issue, as it conflicts with the Fifth Amendment, which protects individuals from self-incrimination. However, the IRS has a workaround: individuals involved in illegal activities can report their earnings as “other income” without detailing the source, as long as they pay the required tax.
Tennessee enforces a similar tax, specifically targeting illegal drugs, alcohol, and smuggling. Known as the crack tax, it requires drug dealers, bootleggers, and smugglers to discreetly pay taxes on their illicit earnings.
If arrested, offenders must provide proof of tax payment. Failure to do so results in additional charges for tax evasion, on top of their criminal offenses.
This can have serious consequences. Notorious gangster Al Capone was imprisoned in the 1930s for tax evasion, not for murder, bootlegging, or other crimes tied to his organized crime empire.
3. Television and Radio Tax – Germany
In the 1970s, Germany implemented a unique tax targeting households with radios and televisions. This tax, approximately $20 per month, funds state-operated TV and radio networks. Controversy erupted in 2013 when the government mandated payment from everyone, regardless of whether they owned a television or radio.
Many Germans opposed the tax, with some taking legal action against Beitragsservice, the agency responsible for tax collection. Beitragsservice responded with threats of fines and jail time for non-payment. Protesters dubbed the agency “GEZ-stapo,” a blend of GEZ (the tax’s name) and the Nazi-era Gestapo. Meanwhile, state media labeled the dissenters as GEZ rebels.
2. Marijuana Tax – United States
The legalization of marijuana remains a divisive issue in the US. Medical marijuana, available with a doctor’s prescription, is legal in 29 states and Washington, DC. Recreational marijuana, used for enjoyment and not requiring a prescription, is legal in nine states and Washington, DC. However, the federal government still classifies marijuana as illegal, creating a conflict with state laws.
Despite marijuana’s illegal status at the federal level, the IRS mandates that businesses cultivating and selling it pay federal income taxes. These businesses also comply with state income taxes and marijuana-specific sales taxes. The IRS imposes stricter tax regulations on marijuana businesses compared to conventional ones.
Because the federal government deems marijuana illegal, the IRS treats the earnings of marijuana businesses as illicit and categorizes their operations as trafficking. Consequently, these businesses cannot deduct typical expenses like rent, advertising, or employee wages, resulting in higher tax burdens than other industries.
The sole permissible deduction is the cost of growing marijuana, classified by the IRS as “cost of goods sold.” This restrictive tax policy makes it financially challenging for many marijuana businesses to operate, even in states where it’s legal. Depending on the location, they may owe 40–70% of their income in taxes.
In contrast, federal tax laws are more lenient with deductions for growers of “industrial hemp” who comply with the Farm Bill.
1. Witchcraft Tax – Romania
Witchcraft and fortune-telling thrive in Romania, where superstitions remain deeply rooted. Previously, these practices were not officially recognized by the government and thus exempt from taxation. However, this changed when Romania faced an economic downturn.
To boost revenue, the government introduced taxes on various previously untaxed professions. This included controversial fields like witchcraft, fortune-telling, and astrology, as well as more conventional roles such as diving instructors, valets, and embalmers. Under the new law, all were required to pay 16% of their income as tax.
The tax sparked mixed reactions among Romania’s witches. Some saw it as official recognition of their profession, while others vehemently opposed it. Those against the tax threatened to cast spells on the government, warning they would gather at the Danube River’s edge and toss a mandrake plant into the water to curse the politicians behind the new law.
