WINDOW TAX

Today's word: WINDOW TAX
Theme for this fortnight: TAXES

 

Although it sounds ludicrous, the Window Tax of 1696 was actually a relatively ingenious way of imposing an income tax on the rich without ever calling it that.

Affecting England, Scotland, and Great Britain, in the 18th and 19th centuries, this tax on windows was actually meant as a tax on wealth, as people with more income generally live in nicer houses, and nice houses generally have more than two windows. While this tax directly led to the bricking up of many windows, it also eventually led to a fair and less arbitrary income tax that honed-in on wealthier citizens.