Income taxes are a crucial part of the modern society that we live in. They are a major source of revenue for governments all over the world. But how did income taxes come into existence? What is their history and legality? In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the history and legality of income taxes.
The Origin of Income Taxes
The earliest known income tax system was established in ancient Egypt around 3000 BC. The system was simple: farmers paid a percentage of their crops to the government as taxes. This was followed by the ancient Greeks who implemented a similar system. The Romans also implemented an income tax system, where taxpayers were required to pay one percent of their income to the Roman government.
In feudal Europe, taxes were collected in the form of labor and produce. However, during the 14th century, taxes were largely collected in the form of money. Income taxes as we know them today emerged during the 19th century.
The History of Income Taxes in the United States
In the United States, the first income tax was implemented during the Civil War, in order to raise funds for the war effort. The tax was repealed in 1872. In 1894, an income tax was once again implemented, but it was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1895.
It was not until the ratification of the 16th Amendment in 1913 that the modern income tax system was established in the United States. The amendment gave Congress the power to tax incomes without regard to population or census data. This resulted in the establishment of a progressive income tax system, where people with higher incomes pay a higher percentage in taxes.
The Legality of Income Taxes
One of the most common arguments against income taxes is that they are unconstitutional. The argument is based on the belief that the income tax violates the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, as well as the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
However, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that income taxes are not unconstitutional. In the case of Brushaber v. Union Pacific R.R. Co. (1916), the Supreme Court ruled that the 16th Amendment gave Congress the power to tax income, without apportioning it among the states.
Furthermore, in the case of United States v. Sullivan (1927), the Supreme Court ruled that refusal to pay income taxes is a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment. The court stated that income taxes are necessary to fund the government, and that the Fourteenth Amendment makes clear that any attempt to disregard them is illegal.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the agency responsible for collecting income taxes in the United States. It was established in 1862, during the Civil War, as part of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. It became an independent agency in 1953.
The IRS is responsible for enforcing the tax laws and regulations, as well as processing tax returns and distributing refunds. It also conducts audits of tax returns, in order to ensure compliance with the tax laws.
Recent Developments in Income Taxes
In recent years, there have been a number of developments in income taxes. One major development is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017. The act made significant changes to the tax code, including lowering the corporate tax rate and increasing the standard deduction.
Another development is the rise of the gig economy. As more people work as independent contractors, rather than traditional employees, there has been a growing debate over how to tax these workers. While independent contractors are responsible for paying their own taxes, there is concern that they may not be aware of their tax obligations and may not be paying their fair share.
Conclusion
Income taxes have a long and complex history, dating back to ancient times. In the United States, income taxes have been the subject of much debate and controversy, but have consistently been upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional. The IRS plays a crucial role in enforcing the tax laws and regulations. With recent developments such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the rise of the gig economy, income taxes are likely to remain an important issue in the years to come.
The history of taxes in the United States involves many intervening factors which influenced circumstances where taxes would be levied, as well as income tax rates. In the past, personal income taxes were created and often increased in order to fund wars. Other intervening factors, such as lawsuits, would also have an impact on income tax rates and  laws.
In the late seventeen hundreds, taxes on items such as corporate bonds, and even on slaves, were used to support the running of the countries government. However, those taxes were ended when the country began to place international tariffs on imported items.At one point, congress tried to support the country through taxes placed on items such as tobacco and alcohol. In the end, Congress decided that a nationwide personal income tax was the best way to support the running of the countries government.
The United States first imposed a personal income tax on citizens in order to help fund the Civil war. At the same time, an inheritance tax was introduced. An Act in 1862, allowed taxes to be collected from citizens in default, by seizing individual property or through prosecution. At one point, Congress focused on taxing specific items such as tobacco and alcohol, in order to avoid taxing income.
Although the income tax was eliminated in 1872, it was brought back in 1894.There was a court case in which the Supreme Court decided that personal income taxes were unconstitutional. In response to the Pollock case, the sixteenth Amendment was ratified, adding personal income tax to the Constitution. There are still many legal challenges on personal income taxes, even today. There are groups of citizens around the country that claim that the Sixteenth Amendment was never properly ratified and therefore, personal income taxes were never actually legalized in the United States Constitution.
Ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment legalized income taxes in all forms. Prior to the Amendment, personal income taxes were declared unconstitutional in the Pollock case. Â Currently, income tax rates are based on several factors. Â In fact, each state determines its own income tax rates based on specific intervening factors, such a total salary minus allowable deductions.
Personal income tax laws continue to evolve, including changing income tax rates. Current events, such as a poor economy, often prompt congress to make changes to the personal income tax laws, including income tax rates.
