As if it isn’t bad enough to have a good portion of your wages go to the government already, they come up with nuttier and nuttier ideas on how to steal it from you in the form of excessive taxation. Most people are forced to pay some form of tax.
Some of the more traditional forms of taxation are; the income tax, property tax, sales tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, unemployment tax, VAT tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, gift tax, gasoline tax, cigarette tax, road use/car registration tax, toll road/bridge fees, carbon emission tax, corporate tax, drivers license renewal fees, marriage licenses, business licenses, health inspection certificates, concealed weapons permits, excise tax, customs duty tax, tariffs, and the insidious hidden tax of inflation.
Below are six wacky taxes that are still being enforced. It shows how, even in bad economic times, the government will attempt to do whatever it takes to keep getting paid. This is at the expense of the common man, instead of curbing their spending habits like the rest of society.
Six wacky taxes you might not know about
– Illegal drug possession and dealing profit tax
As crazy as it sounds, some states require you to pay taxes to possess illegal drugs and also to sell them. What you are supposed to do in these states is to go to your states Department of Revenue and pay a tax on the illegal drugs you have just purchased and are in possession of. Then they shall issue you a stamp for you to place on your drug. This shows that you have paid a tax on it. If caught with drugs and they do not have a stamp, you can be charged with tax evasion.
If you happen to be the one selling the illegal drugs, you are required to claim the income generated from the sales onto your federal tax return. Per the IRS,
“Illegal income, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.”
– Nudity tax
The Supreme Court of the state of Utah ruled in 2009 that the nudity tax is constitutional. According to desertnews.com, the tax entails; “assesses a 10-percent tax on admission fees and user fees charged by sexually explicit Utah businesses, those that employ nudity for more than 30 days per calendar year. Utah-produced retail merchandise, food and drinks sold by these businesses are also subject to the tax.” Supposedly the taxes collected are to be used fund a task force to help stop internet crimes against children and to also treat inmates who were convicted of sex offenses.
– Card tax
Do you like playing card games? Well, in Alabama you are required to pay a 10 cent per deck of cards tax on decks with 54 cards or less. Here is an excerpt of the tax code, “packages of playing cards containing not more than 54 cards to the deck or package shall pay to the State of Alabama for state purposes only a license or privilege tax of .10 cents per package or deck, such tax to be evidenced by revenue stamps, and the stamps in all cases to be affixed to the individual package. The stamps shall be affixed in such manner that their removal will require continued application of water or steam.” Also if you want to sell packs of playing cards you are required to pay $2 annually for a license.
– Blueberry tax
So you there you are walking in the wilds of Maine and you stumble upon a wild blueberry bush. Guess what, you are required to pay a tax on growing, handling, processing, selling and purchasing blueberries in Maine at a rate of 1.5 cent per pound.
– Fur tax
If you were to purchase a fur coat, or any other product made from fur, in Minnesota you are subject to extra taxation. Any business that makes or sells fur goods is required to pay a 6.5 percent tax on the sale to include shipping and handling. The item has to have at three times as much fur over any other component used in manufacturing it, to be liable.
– Bagel tax
As if the Empire state cannot be more controlling, they have decided to now tax bagels. Any bagel that is sliced or has topping is now subject to an extra eight cents in tax. If you would like to save yourself that extra tax burden all you have to do is to purchase an unsliced bagel and then slice it yourself.