tax farmer
Quick Summary
The term "tax farmer" refers to individuals who contracted with the government to collect taxes in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. This practice was common in the Roman Empire, where tax collection was often delegated to these middlemen. In France, from 1697 to 1789, a specific group known as "farmers-general" were responsible for collecting certain taxes. This system allowed governments to raise revenue without directly managing the complex and often unpopular task of tax collection. However, it could also lead to abuses, as tax farmers might extort more than was legally due to maximize their own profits.12
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FranceMilitary and financial organization…was increasingly handed over to tax farmers. The more efficient methods of collection by tax farmers enabled the crown to gather a larger proportion of its revenue than previously but did not solve the problem of royal finance. Even the extraordinary taxes, now added to the crown’s ordinary revenue, notably…
Read More…was increasingly handed over to tax farmers. The more efficient methods of collection by tax farmers enabled the crown to gather a larger proportion of its revenue than previously but did not solve the problem of royal finance. Even the extraordinary taxes, now added to the crown’s ordinary revenue, notably…
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IraqThe Abbasid Caliphate…to short-term expedients such as tax farming (auctioning the right of taxation to the highest bidder), which encouraged extortion and oppression, and granting iqṭāʿs to the military. In theory, iqṭāʿs were grants of the right to collect and use tax revenues; they could not be inherited or sold. The purpose…
Read More…to short-term expedients such as tax farming (auctioning the right of taxation to the highest bidder), which encouraged extortion and oppression, and granting iqṭāʿs to the military. In theory, iqṭāʿs were grants of the right to collect and use tax revenues; they could not be inherited or sold. The purpose…
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PalestineThe Ptolemies) indicates that tax farming, whereby the right to collect taxes was auctioned or was awarded to privileged persons, was employed for the collection of local taxes. It seems likely that there were additional extraordinary taxes levied by edict from Egypt.
Read More) indicates that tax farming, whereby the right to collect taxes was auctioned or was awarded to privileged persons, was employed for the collection of local taxes. It seems likely that there were additional extraordinary taxes levied by edict from Egypt.
Read More