What is poll tax?

The poll tax is a tax levied by the state on the people. As early as the Roman Empire, this tax existed before the Qin Dynasty in China, and all taxes after the Qin Dynasty had the nature of poll tax. The poll tax is efficient, but it is the most unfair. According to the theory of welfare economics, poll tax can only widen the gap between the rich and the poor. Because poll tax is unfair, it is hardly collected in modern countries.

The poll tax is a tax that imposes the same fixed amount on everyone. In the19th century, this tax was once an important tax in many countries, but it is no longer. There are several famous examples of poll tax in history. For example, in some parts of the United States, poll tax is used as a qualification to vote; The main purpose is to exclude African Americans, Native Americans and whites of non-British descent from voting rights. British John of Gaunt and Margaret Thatcher also collected poll tax in 14 and 20th century respectively.