Jillian Chantal

Yep, tis that time of year again. I realized I haven’t shared the history of the IRS and the first actual tax returns that were required to be filed.

Our good friend Abraham Lincoln and the Congress of 1862 created the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and started the first income taxes in order to pay for the costs of the civil war. This first law for income taxes was repealed ten years later. Congress tried to bring it back in 1894 but the US Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional. BUT! The idea had been planted and there was a plan afoot to bring it back via a constitutional amendment.

In 1913, the sixteenth amendment was ratified by the states giving Congress the right to impose such taxes and thereafter, we’ve been subject to them. The first form 1040 was made in the same year and the tax rate was 1% for incomes over $3,000.00 and 6% for incomes over $500,000.00. How’s that for a tax rate?

Anyway, that’s enough boring stuff. I’m guest posting two places today and sharing Venice photos. One is at Naughty Author Chicks where my pal Casey Crow has invited me over. The other is where my dear friend Shay Lacy has asked me to pop in. Check me out here and here if you get a chance.