The imposition of transactions taxes can be found through much of modern civilization (see Buehler, 1940). Tomb paintings depict tax collectors in Egypt at least as early as 2000 BC, and sales taxes on individual commodities, such as cooking oil, can be traced to that time. Egypt, Athens, and Rome were all known to have general sales taxes. Indeed, the Romans were responsible for taking sales taxes to the rest of Europe, including to both Spain and France. Later, Spain had a national sales tax in place from 1342 until the 18th century, with rates that ultimately reached 10 to 15 percent. Specific commodity taxes were so broadly imposed during the U.S. civil war, that when combined, they nearly formed a general sales tax.
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