As our economy continues to struggle one of the biggest issues on improving it is deciding what taxes we should be raising, lowering, introducing, or flat out eliminating.

Perhaps if we got creative we could both save and produce some money here.  Although something tells me that these six real taxes might not be part of the discussion……

The Flush Tax

If you want to take a piss, make a poop, or do just about anything in that toiled you’re gonna have to pay when you’re in Maryland.   In 2004 Maryland passed what is called a “flush tax.” The bill established the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Restoration Fund to be supported by a $2.50 a month fee on sewer bills and an equivalent $30 annual fee on septic system owners.   Funds are collected to upgrade septics and other poop related systems.

Tattoo Tax

Since 2005, anyone in Arkansas wanting to get an eagle etched on their abs or a nose ring notched in their nostrils will have to pay an additional 6 percent, as the state included tattooing and body piercing in its list of services subject to sales taxes.  Don’t believe me?  Here’s the link.

Crack Tax

Hmm.  I kind of thought crack was illegal?  From 2005 to 2009 in Tennessee, drug dealers were subjected to taxes on the sale of illegal substances. The tax was levied per gram of illegal drugs: $3.50 for marijuana, $50 for cocaine, and $200 for meth and crack cocaine.    Dealers were supposed to pay these taxes anonymously.  Call me crazy but doesn’t this encourage drug dealing?  Over 6MM was collected.

The Catholic Tax

In Germany, the church is both a legal tax-raising statutory body as well as a community of faith. A Catholic who objects to paying church tax has to formally leave the church, and is subsequently excommunicated.  There is also a church tax in Austria and Switzerland.   Personally I think that if you’re Catholic you should just be taxed based on how insane you are.

A Bagel Tax

Only in New York on this one.   I just had to say that.  If you buy a whole bagel and take it home with you, it is exempt from tax. However, if you purchase that same bagel, but eat it at the bagel shop (even without cream cheese), bagel shops must charge sales tax on the purchase price.  Apparently the act of slicing the bagel makes it taxable.  Come on Bloomberg!

A Urine Tax

If you thought that Roman emperors were weird for sleeping with boys and murdering people all the time think again.  They had a urine tax.  Yes, a urine tax.  The tax was actually levied on the collection of urine by the toilet operators who sold it on, at great profit, to tanners and cleaners who utilized the liquid’s high ammonia content.