Valuation of Personal Or Real Property According to The Bible

Consequent upon this, changing or fine-tuning tax rates has been used to influence or achieve macroeconomic stability, A critical examples of governments that have influenced their economic development through revenue from tax are; Canada. United States, Nethcriand. United Kingdom. They derive substantial revenue from Company Income tax. Value Added Tax. Import Duties and have used same to create prosperity (Qluba 2008). Biblically, The Bible contains numerous references to taxation. This paper examines and analyzes the various types and instances of taxes in the Bible in light of political and economic developments. Sources outside the Bible are also referenced, such as Flavius Josephus [Whiston, 1960], a Jewish historian of the 1st century of the present era, and Schmandt Besserat [1988].

The term “tax” is characterized more by its involuntary nature than its precise terminology; precise tax terminologies did not exist in Biblical days. A tax is not a voluntary payment like a charitable contribution. The eminent jurist Learned Hand stated, “taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions” [Commr. v. Newman, p. 851]. Webster’s New World Dictionary [Guralnik, 1976, p. 1458] lists the following definitions of the “tax:” A compulsory payment, usually a percentage, levied on income, property value, sales price, etc. for the support of a government. This distinction between taxes and contributions is clearly indicated in the Bible. Four types of direct taxes or involuntary payments (income taxes, property taxes, special assessment taxes, and poll or capitation taxes) to the governing authorities are mentioned. The Bible also references indirect taxes, such as custom duties or sales taxes. In contrast, contributions which provided for assembly of the tabernacle are discussed as nontax, freewill offerings. In the theocracy of ancient Israel, tithing in a religious context was the same as taxation in a governmental context. It is impossible to distinguish religious and governmental taxation since religion and government were one and the same in ancient Israel.

Hartman [1963, p. 2395] wrote, “In a strictly theocratic state there is no real distinction between the treasury of the sanctuary and the treasury of the government. Taxation types in bible Income taxes, property taxes, special assessment taxes, and poll taxes are all mentioned in the Bible. Though tax terms, such as rate and base, are not technically discussed in the Bible, the tax attributes indicated by these terms are sufficiently implicit to distinguish these four types of direct taxation. Indirect taxes, such as custom duties or sales taxes, are also mentioned in the Bible. Income Tax: An income tax is a levy based on the income of a person or the yield of property, such as farmland or herds of livestock.

Genesis 47:26 mentions such a tax. So Joseph established it as law concerning land in Egypt which is still in force today that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. This was a 20% tax on the yield of property, a precursor to a government imposed income tax. Other parties have also typified a levy based on property yield as an income tax. One author referred to this Egyptian practice as follows, “Agricultural production was taxed at a hefty 20%.This was exactly like our income tax” [Adams, 1993, p.3]. After the Hebrews left Egypt, the rate was dropped to 10%, the tithe rate [Leviticus 27:32]: The entire tithe of the herd and flock every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the Lord.

However, the reduction was actually less since the Hebrews were commanded to present their “first fruits” to the priests, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:35: This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the jowls and the inner parts. You are to give them the first fruits of your grain, new wine and oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep, for the Lord your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the Lord’s name always. ‘ Unless otherwise stated, all Biblical references are from the New International Version of The Holy Bible. KJV denotes The Holy Bible, King James Verse One observer classified these obligatory payments as taxes even though a percentage is not stated [Oden, 1984, p. 169].

For purposes of this paper, “first fruits” are grouped with tithes as income taxes in that their amount would presumably have been a function of the total amount of agricultural production.