Difference between revisions of "Tax System in Ancient India"

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Revision as of 16:26, 3 September 2024

Detailed information about ancient Indian tax system is available in texts such as Kautiliya Arthashastra, Manusmrti, Sukraniti and to some extent in Dharmasutras.

It encompasses topics like

  • Nature of the tax
  • Welfare of the taxpayer
  • Amount of tax charged on various products
  • Tax on agriculture
  • Other taxes
  • Exemptions given and other related topics

This article attempts to explain the tax system as enumerated in the Dharmasutras, Kautiliya Arthashastra, Manusmriti and Shukraniti in relevance to the current times.

Definition of Tax

Tax was also known as shulka (duty?), that is the king's share received from the buyer and the seller. The sources of tax were market streets, boundary areas of market, etc. (Shukraniti 4.2.105 ?)[1]

References

  1. Rohan Kulkarni (2010), Tax System According to ’KAUṬILĪYA ARTHAŚA͞STRA, MANUSMṚTI AND ŚUKRANĪTI, and its relevance, Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, Vol.70/71, P.439–443.