Benjamin Franklin once quipped, “the only thing certain in life is death and taxes.”This commonly used idiom appears to have even proven relevant as far back as the Stuart era, with the window tax of 1696 imposing a levy based on the number of windows in a house.

The window tax

Introduced by William III, the window tax was intended as a method of collecting money that was relative to the wealth of the taxpayer. It was supposed to circumvent the furore that surrounded the concept of income tax, which at the time, many claimed was a threat to individual liberty, due to the necessity of disclosing personal details on income.

Aspects of finance

The tax was comprised of two parts. Part one consisted of a flat rate of two shillings per house. Part two was an additional tax dependent on the number of windows you had throughout your home that exceeded 10 windows:

  • Properties with 10-20 windows were expected to pay four shillings.
  • Properties with 20 windows or more were expected to pay eight shillings.

So how much tax would you be liable for?

Public dissatisfaction

Unsurprisingly,the window tax was unpopular with taxpayers, and some even went as far as boarding and bricking up their window spaces, as a way of evading the tax. It’seven been suggested that the etymology of the expression, “daylight robbery”derives from the window tax, as people saw it as a tax on light.

Modern day

Even though the window tax was eventually revoked due to strong agitation in England during the 1850s, echoes of the tax remain. In 2010, the government proposed that working couples living in council and housing association homes with one or more extra bedrooms with windows should be moved to a smaller property, or see a reduction in their benefits. In 2013, this cut came into effect to public dissatisfaction, reminiscent of the window tax days.

Get in touch

With the window tax having been repealed in 1851, we’re now able to display our property windows proudly! So, if you’re considering replacement windows for your Surrey home and are based in the Surrey area, don’t hesitate to give the friendly team at Hamilton Windows a call today on 020 8390 4855.