Impact of Heavy Taxation on Israel During Solomonic Era: Implications for Nigerian Tax System

Over time, the tax systems have been a major source of revenue generation for several governments. Its history dates back to Bible times. Tax therefore becomes the civic responsibility of individuals and corporate organizations with the understanding that its proceeds will enhance governmental projects for the benefit of the society. However, history has shown that the implementation of tax policies by different governments have at different times resulted in double or multiple taxation of the citizens. Hidden under the garb of ‘development’ and ‘improvement’ of the wellbeing of the society, these administrators exploit the people and at the end poverty is further entrenched. The paper attempted a critical look at tax policies and its administration in ancient Israel during the Solomonic Era – a time when the Bible said Israel ‘prospered’, and its impact on the populace. The implications of such impact on the Nigerian tax systems were drawn in an attempt to avert extreme effects like dissension. We discovered that the Solomonic Era was characterized by heavy taxation. Beyond the multiplicity of direct tax, thousands of Israelites were drawn into unpaid labor force. The study noted the replication of Solomonic tax system in Nigeria and recommended an urgent reform in the Nigeria’s tax administration as well as value re-orientation aimed at curtailing corrupt bureaucracy.