Tax Facts

The IRS employees tax manual has instructions for collecting taxes after a nuclear war.

During the peak of his career in the 1950s and 1960s, Elvis Presley was in the highest tax bracket—which reached 91-92%—making him one of America's top taxpayers.

In Ancient Egypt, some people paid their taxes in honey.

During the reign of Peter the Great, Russian men who wished to retain their traditional beards were required to pay a special tax, with the amount varying based on their social status.

In 2005, the US federal government spent approximately $21,840 for each household in America.

In the U.S., about 17% of what you pay at the gas pump goes to taxes, combining federal and state fuel taxes that fund road infrastructure.

Genghis Khan exempted the poor and clergy from taxes, promoted literacy among Mongols, and established religious tolerance across his empire, making Mongol rule attractive to many conquered peoples.

The IRS officially requires criminals to report income from illegal activities like drug dealing, theft, and bribes on their tax returns. While the Fifth Amendment protects them from having to reveal the source of the income, failing to report it is still tax evasion—which is exactly how they got Al Capone.

In Mexico, artists can pay their taxes using artwork that they create.