Legal Definitions - poll tax

A poll tax is a type of tax that is imposed on individuals, regardless of their income or property ownership. It is a fixed amount that each person must pay, usually on an annual basis. The poll tax is a form of direct taxation, meaning that it is collected directly from the individual rather than through a third party.

• In the United States, poll taxes were used in some states as a way to prevent African Americans from voting. These taxes were often set at a high amount that many people could not afford to pay, effectively disenfranchising them.
• In the United Kingdom, a poll tax was introduced in 1989 that required every adult to pay the same amount for local government services, regardless of their income or property ownership. This tax was highly controversial and led to widespread protests.

These examples illustrate how poll taxes can be used as a tool for discrimination or can be unpopular with the general public. They also show how poll taxes are different from other types of taxes, such as income taxes or property taxes, which are based on a person's financial situation or ownership of assets.