TAXES

ANCIENT EGYPT

Print, Pangrum, Aim

Taxes Levied
-

Egyptains did not have coined money, so their taxes were levied on harvests and
property. Heavy taxes were levied at least once a year and included payment on grain
and various kinds of labor. Taxes were calculated for cattle, grain and other goods with
additional fees for merchants.

Payment Of Taxes
-

The ancient Egypt citizens paid taxes in form of labor or grain that stored by the
pharaoh in large warehouses.

The pharaoh relied on taxed grain as a source of supplementation during years of

drought and bad harvest.

Manual labor was also a tax requirement that supported the Egyptian army as well as
large harvest and building projects throughout the year.

Taxation was a fact of life for all Egyptians

throughout history.
- Taxes were regularly imposed for every
harvest, and at any other time the Pharaoh
saw fit
- One person from every household was
required to pay a corvee or labor tax by
doing public work for a few weeks every
year
- The vizier controlled the taxation system
through the departments of state.
- The departments had to report daily on
the amount of stock available and how
much was expected in the future.

Tax Collection
-

Documentation dating back the the first dynasty in Egypt, between 3000 and 2800 B.C.,
show evidence that pharaohs appeared before the people to collect taxes. The royal
tours, called the "Following of Horus" made clear that tax revenues were due to the
pharaoh as the head of the state. Unable to handle the process themselves, pharaohs
also appointed ministers called viziers who acted as tax supervisors. The vizier kept
records of taxes collected and ensured that needs for labor and grains were met.

Use of Taxes

A large portion of the taxes imposed were

used to stabilize society. Taxed grain was
stored for distribution in times of hardship.
Public workers were fed from grain stores
and artisans constructing public buildings
were paid by the treasury. Even temple
offerings were used to benefit and feed the
poorer classes. Taxed labor was used to
harvest crops, staff armies and build temples
and monuments.

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