Why did Jean-Baptiste Colbert review claims of noble status in France?

Jean-Baptiste Colbert initiated a review of titles of nobility in France to reform the country's chaotic taxation system, which was a legacy of medieval times.1

Under this system, many individuals—including members of the clergy and the nobility—were entirely exempt from the taille, a primary tax used to fund the state. By reviewing these claims, Colbert aimed to expose those who were falsely asserting noble status to avoid their tax liabilities. This effort was part of his broader initiative to ensure the tax was levied on all who were properly liable and to achieve a fairer distribution of the tax burden across the kingdom.1