Medieval Serfs:

Time spent working

3 days on their Lord’s land.
3 days on their own land.
1 day off for Church.
= 50% effective tax on their time

Ancient Egypt:

Customs Taxes — 10% of animals and goods they carried that crossed the sea
Agricultural tax
Tax on cooking oil

Greece:

Wartime Tax on everyone –> rescinded in peace time
Poll tax on foreigners without Athenian mother and father
1 drachma for men, half a drachma for women –>
Owed once a month.

Roman Empire:

In general: Import and Export Taxes
Caesar Augustus —
5% inheritance tax
4% tax on slaves
Julius Caesar —
1% sales tax

Great Britain:

868-1066 :Danegeld was a tax of two shillings for every 100-120 acres. Tribute so that raiding Danes would not attack.
1337-1453: 100 years war fueled and paid for by oppressive tax policies.
14th century: Progressive tax imposed. Duke of Lancaster taxed at 520 times more than a common peasant. Income tax on the wealthy, office holders, and clergy.
1640’s: Excise tax on essential commodities increased to where a lower class family of four would starve. common lands used for hunting enclosed and peasant hunting banned.
1800: Precursor of modern income tax created to finance war vs. Napoleon, but repealed in 1816.

Source: TAD