WEEK 5

TAXATION
1. How did Filipinos pay taxes during the Spanish period?
The Filipinos pay taxes in a form of tribute wherein Filipinos aged between
16 to 60 years old were entitled to pay worth 8 reales or 1 peso per year and or
in other forms of paying such as paying gold, chicken, textiles, rice and forced
labor or cervicio y polo. And was abolished in 1884 and changed into cedula.

2. How is it different from how we pay taxes now?

The difference between how we pay taxes before and today is that before
Filipinos were entitled to pay their taxes however the persons which are
exempted from paying were influential persons who has the capacity to sustain
themselves and has a grandiose life. Whereas the poor people are obliged to do
the forced labor and paying of taxes which is very unjust. In contrary,
nowadays people no longer had to do the forced labor and in fact there are laws
being implemented on how and who are the person that has to pay taxes.
Today, the government has considered the capability of an individual. They
consider its job or how much it earns so that they will not add a baggage to
those who are less fortunate. And people will no longer sell and give something
in exchange for living in the country. The government already has the power to
choose those citizens who will be charged with taxes specially those who have
high paying jobs and businesses.

3. Is it possible for a country to function and thrive without tax? Why or

why not?
I think it would be impossible for a country to thrive and function
without collecting tax to its people because tax plays a significant role in a
country’s economy. Without it, the society will be paralyzed. The government
will have no resources in paying the employees who serves for our country and
other people just like the teachers, doctors, engineers, nurses and other
notable professions. Also, they would not be able to conduct social projects like
building roads and other infrastructures and create other innovations that can
help not just the people but also for the growth and development of the
country. Taxes is for the benefits of the people and people runs and keeps the
country and economy moving therefore collecting tax is a necessity of a
country.