100th Birthday Of The U.S. Federal Income Tax

Enrolled Agents: America's Tax Experts

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first known written record of taxes dates back to ancient Egypt when grain, livestock or oils were used instead of money to pay what was owed to the government.  Even then, the surviving hieroglyphic tablets record how people complained about high taxes.  Some things never change.

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February 3, 2013 is the 100 ^th birthday of the 16 ^th Amendment, which is the recognized birth of U.S. Federal Income Tax.  The history of the 16 ^th Amendment actually dates back to 1861 during the civil war, when Congress passed the Revenue act of 1861. This act included a 3 percent tax on personal incomes over $800 to help pay war expenses.  Ten years later, in 1872, this act was repealed. The idea stuck around though, and in 1894 Congress enacted a 4 percent tax on income over $4,000. The U.S. Supreme Court immediately struck this down in a 5-4 decision.  In 1909, Congress tried again with the idea of an income tax. This time, however, it stuck, and on February 3, 1913 the 16 ^th Amendment was ratified stating " The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

In 1913 the first Form 1040 was documented. Congress placed a 1 percent tax on net personal income over $3,000, with an additional tax on those who had net income in excess of $20,000 of between 1 and 6 percent, depending upon income. The first year no taxes were collected; the IRS only checked the forms for accuracy. During World War I the income tax rose to its highest point at 77 percent to help finance the war. Improvements to the system were made during World War II when Congress introduced payroll withholding and quarterly tax payments.

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is another type of federal income tax that was enacted in 1969. This tax was established so that any taxpayer who wasn't paying their fair share due to deductions and credits would still have to pay an income tax.

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