8 of the Most Bizarre Taxes in History

Winston Churchill once remarked, “We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” These words, as profound as one would expect from a figure like Churchill, highlight the futility of excessive taxation. Yet, history is replete with rulers and governments attempting this very feat, regardless of the flawed logic.

1. Tax on Cooking Oil

The Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were relentless in their taxation policies. Evading taxes or providing false declarations could result in severe punishments, including flogging or even death. Scribes were employed to ensure taxes were collected on a wide range of goods, from grain and beer to transportation along the Nile. Those who thought reusing cooking oil was a clever way to save money had to be cautious. Recycling cooking oil was illegal, and scribes would conduct home inspections to find reused oil. If discovered, homeowners faced warnings and were compelled to purchase new oil, along with paying the required tax.

2. Tax on Urine

In Ancient Rome, urine collectors were a familiar presence in public restrooms. The ammonia in urine served various purposes, such as tanning, wool production, cleaning and whitening woolen togas, and even teeth whitening. When Emperor Vespasian sought to replenish his treasury, he imposed a tax on urine, requiring buyers of public urine to pay. The famous Latin saying Pecunia non olet (“money does not stink”), still in use today, is credited to Vespasian. He passed away in 79 CE during a severe case of diarrhea, oddly murmuring, “Dear me, I think I'm becoming a god.”

3. Tax on Cowards

In medieval England, knights who preferred to avoid military campaigns could opt to pay scutage, often referred to as the “coward’s tax.” This fee exempted them from participating in specific wars. King John, ruling from 1199 to 1216, notoriously exploited this system, frequently demanding the tax even during peacetime.

4. Tax on Bachelors

Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor, introduced strict moral reforms that penalized unmarried men. While he incentivized large families, particularly those with three or more sons, men aged 38 and older faced a bachelor tax and were barred from public games. His Lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus outlawed childless marriages and celibacy. This practice persisted through history; in 1695, England imposed a tax on bachelors over 25 and childless widowers. Similarly, the Soviet Union taxed bachelors, singles, and small families from 1941 to 1990 to address population decline.

5. Tax on Enemies

During his tenure as Lord Protector (1653–1658), Oliver Cromwell faced constant opposition from Royalists. To fund militias aimed at suppressing them, Cromwell devised a unique strategy: he imposed a 10 percent income tax, dubbed the “decimation tax,” on his Royalist adversaries. He justified this by arguing that the militias were necessary solely because of the Royalists’ rebellious activities.

6. Tax on Beards

While some claim King Henry VIII of England introduced a beard tax, there’s no historical evidence to support this. However, Peter the Great of Russia did enforce a tax on his bearded citizens. In 1698, aiming to align Russia with the clean-shaven trends of Western Europe, he levied an annual beard tax. Poorer individuals could keep their beards for a mere two kopeks per year, while the wealthy were charged 100 rubles. Those who avoided the tax risked being shaved by authorities, while compliant citizens received a copper token as proof of payment.

7. Tax on Windows

Introduced in Britain in 1696, the window tax aimed to assess wealth based on the number of windows in a home. Larger homes with more windows were taxed higher than smaller, less affluent dwellings. However, the tax faced challenges, as the definition of a window was unclear, leading to disputes over what constituted a taxable opening. Many homeowners resorted to sealing their windows to evade the tax, resulting in poor lighting and ventilation. This contributed to health problems like typhus, smallpox, and cholera. The tax was finally abolished in 1851.

8. Taxes on Nearly Everything in the Georgian Era

As the 18th century began and homeowners were still sealing their windows, the Georgian era ushered in a wave of taxes unlike any before. To address Britain’s war debts [PDF], taxes were imposed on a wide range of items, including bricks, candles, clocks, watches, gin, glass, hats, wallpaper, medicine, playing cards, and soap.

This story was originally published in 2021 and has been updated for 2022.