Weekly Job Role: Tax collector

hcobb · 04-15-2023, 06:10 AM

The Tax collector job requires only Literacy and Detect Lies, and possibly political connections. For a job that requires an IQ 11 talent it offers low pay and high risk.
The tax rate notes at ITL 56 establish a minimum tax rate of 10% per year and an 22% average reduction in "bank balances" a year. (The difference between these two figures may indicate that investments in fixed and mobile property are less taxed than cash on hand.)
This note also hints that failing to satisfy the tax collectors can result in drafting into the army. This seems a bit above their pay grade so some bureaucrat that the tax collectors report to may acting as the draft board here.
An encounter with the tax collector can communicate a lot of world building richness to the players in a form they'll want to engage in. Some things a GM may want to consider for this encounter are:

How does the government actually function? What happens when the PCs are told that the Emperor has unquestioned religious and political power, but it's the shogun who sets the tax rates?
If there is just a cash on hand tax then do jewels and such count, and if so at a rate set by the foreign supplier or is a domestic licensed assessor required and how much do they charge for their services? If the tax collectors apply Assess Value (possibly untalented) themselves then how accurate and honest are they?
Is personal property taxed and if so are tools of the trade exempt? For example a warrior might have his "armor, two weapons, and a dagger" exempt from tax while a wizard exempts her robe, staff, chest, and books.
How are magic items taxed and valued? Does this have to be at the local Wizards' Guild or do they have cross-agreements?
Is there a head tax on humans and other beasts? Do hydra protest this much?
Do businesses such as inns and potion brewers pass along a business tax to their customers?

04-15-2023, 06:10 AM	#1
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Weekly Job Role: Tax collector The Tax collector job requires only Literacy and Detect Lies, and possibly political connections. For a job that requires an IQ 11 talent it offers low pay and high risk. The tax rate notes at ITL 56 establish a minimum tax rate of 10% per year and an 22% average reduction in "bank balances" a year. (The difference between these two figures may indicate that investments in fixed and mobile property are less taxed than cash on hand.) This note also hints that failing to satisfy the tax collectors can result in drafting into the army. This seems a bit above their pay grade so some bureaucrat that the tax collectors report to may acting as the draft board here. An encounter with the tax collector can communicate a lot of world building richness to the players in a form they'll want to engage in. Some things a GM may want to consider for this encounter are: How does the government actually function? What happens when the PCs are told that the Emperor has unquestioned religious and political power, but it's the shogun who sets the tax rates? If there is just a cash on hand tax then do jewels and such count, and if so at a rate set by the foreign supplier or is a domestic licensed assessor required and how much do they charge for their services? If the tax collectors apply Assess Value (possibly untalented) themselves then how accurate and honest are they? Is personal property taxed and if so are tools of the trade exempt? For example a warrior might have his "armor, two weapons, and a dagger" exempt from tax while a wizard exempts her robe, staff, chest, and books. How are magic items taxed and valued? Does this have to be at the local Wizards' Guild or do they have cross-agreements? Is there a head tax on humans and other beasts? Do hydra protest this much? Do businesses such as inns and potion brewers pass along a business tax to their customers? __________________ -HJC Last edited by hcobb; 04-15-2023 at 06:28 AM.