6. Window Tax

A flat-rate house of 2 shillings had to give a range of tax as per the number of windows above 10 windows in England and Scotland. Window tax was said to be a major cultural, architectural and social force in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Great Britain during the 18th century. Some of the houses have bricked up their home window spaces due to this tax. Window tax was introduced under the ‘Act of Making Good the Deficiency of the Clipped Money’, under King William III, in 1696.

7. Beard Tax

King Henry VIII of England, who himself had a beard, introduced a tax on beards in 1535. It was a graduated tax and used to vary according to the wearer’s social position. Henry’s daughter Elizabeth I of England reintroduced the beard tax which stated that every beard of more than two weeks growth will be taxed. Though in Russia this tax was implemented due to a different reason: to make its citizens shave as the Tsar beards are said to be uncultured.