| They say death and taxes are the only two certain | | | | with the south. When the war came to an end, the tax |
| things in life. Alas, this wasn't always the case. Well, at | | | | was phased out. Imagine a tax being phased out now? |
| least for the income tax. | | | | That should bring a tear of laughter to your eye. |
| The History of Income Taxes | | | | The income tax as we know it was first instituted in |
| Our great nation came into existence in fits and starts. | | | | 1913. Congress passed a law establishing a graduated |
| Following the revolt against the British, a federal | | | | tax rate of one to seven percent on all income taxes. I |
| government was elected and the fun began. This "fun" | | | | can say honestly and truthfully that I would kill to pay |
| inevitably led to the situation where not everyone could | | | | one percent in taxes these days. Heck, I am willing to |
| agree on what the United States should stand for, | | | | take on the burden of paying seven percent! |
| much less what laws should be enacted. As a result, | | | | In establishing the income tax system, the Constitution |
| there was no federal income tax for nearly 100 years. | | | | was amended to add a 16th Amendment. This |
| Ah, the good ole days! | | | | Amendment gave the federal government the right to |
| If there was no income tax during this period, you are | | | | collect taxes. The politicians primarily responsible for |
| probably wondering how the government functioned. It | | | | this were President Roosevelt and President Taft. I |
| did so by collecting use and sales taxes. Taxes were | | | | mention two Presidents because the bitter debate |
| charged on liquor, tobacco and imports to mention just | | | | over the subject took some time to work out. |
| a few. Many people in our modern society would like | | | | If you're looking to blame a particular political party, |
| to return to just such a system. | | | | Presidents Roosevelt and Taft were both Republicans. |
| Contrary to popular notions, the first income tax was | | | | Of course, the Democrats haven't exactly made much |
| not put into law in the early 1900's. In fact, the first | | | | of an effort to repeal the tax, so both parties deserve |
| President to institute an income tax was Abraham | | | | a whack upside the head in my opinion. Nonetheless, |
| Lincoln. In 1861, President Lincoln and Congress passed | | | | this is how we came to be burdened by the income |
| an income tax law to assist with funding the Civil War | | | | tax in the United States. |