1851 – The Window Tax Abolished
On this day in 1851, England abolished the detested Window Tax, which had been in place since 1696. At that time, many Britons opposed income tax on principle. They believed that disclosing personal income was an unacceptable intrusion into private matters and a potential threat to personal liberty. To address this, the government developed a tax system that included counting windows. More windows generally meant a larger and more expensive house. However, this was not always the case, especially in urban areas. People resorted to boarding up windows, and new construction lacked ventilation. Eventually, the government realized the error of its ways and decided to end the tax.
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