Death and Taxes!

They say nothing in life is certain except death and taxes – and, let’s be honest, most of us would rather talk about anything else.

But tax hasn’t always looked like it does today. Over the centuries, it’s taken many forms, some clever, some confusing, and all designed to keep the country running and communities thriving.

Looking back - tax for wars, kings and governments

Tax in Britain goes back over a thousand years. One of the earliest recorded examples was a kind of protection payment introduced by Anglo-Saxon kings in the 10th century to stop Viking invasions (spoiler: it didn’t always work).

Fast-forward to the 11th century, and William the Conqueror made taxation more organised. His famous Domesday Book was basically a massive national audit — listing who owned what, so the crown knew how much they could be taxed.

For centuries, taxes were mostly raised to fund wars or build the wealth of the crown. There were taxes on windows, candles, bricks, even hair powder (yes, really).

The window tax of the 18th and 19th centuries was particularly unpopular — people bricked up their windows to avoid paying, which is why you can still spot “fake walls” on some old buildings today.

The tax system as we know it started in the 18th century when income tax was introduced to pay for the war against Napoleon.  It was supposed to be temporary, but, like many “temporary” government measures, it stuck around.

Over the following centuries, income tax evolved, changing rates, thresholds and rules, until it became a permanent part of UK life.

Looking forward - MTD

Fast forward to today, and taxes are more digital than ever. The government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme is the latest step — moving everything online to make reporting easier and more accurate.

It’s a long way from Vikings and window taxes, but the goal remains the same: keeping the country running and funding the services we all rely on.

So, while tax might not be the most thrilling topic over your morning coffee, it’s woven into our history — shaping everything from the buildings we live in to the systems we use today.

And as we move further into the digital era, one thing’s still certain: you can’t escape death or taxes… but at least we can make the latter a bit simpler!

Do you have a humorous or interesting anecdote about tax?  Share your story below - we’d love to hear it!