Did you know there’s a tax in Sweden for giving your baby a weird name? If you name your baby something that’s not already being used as a name, including a weird misspelling of a current name, you could be subject to a tax. Parents must register their baby’s name with the Swedish Tax Agency by the time the child turns 5.
Here are 7 other weird tax laws from the U.S. and beyond.
1. Jock Tax
In 1991 after the Chicago Bulls defeated the LA Lakers, California imposed what’s become known as the “Jock Tax.” Next time Michael Jordan played basketball in LA, his profits from that game were subject to California’s State Income Tax.
Since that, half the U.S. has imposed Jock Taxes, with many states taxing athletes, performers, and entertainers and using that money to bolster local communities.
2. Window Tax
In 1696, Great Britain wanted to tax the rich without making it too obvious. So they imposed a tax on windows. Since rich people tended to live in bigger houses with more windows, they’d end up paying more than the average citizen.
Many people just bricked up their windows.
3. Cow Flatulence Tax
This may sound ridiculous but brace yourself for something even more unbelievable: cow flatulence is actually a leading cause of global warming.
Cow’s slow digestion, along with their gas-producing diet, tends to build up methane. Apparently, the byproducts of livestock, such as cows, contribute to about 18% of the world’s greenhouse gasses. And slaughterhouses that keep thousands of cows in one place aren’t helping matters.
Ireland, Denmark, and a few other EU nations are now making it personal: by taxing cow owners on their cow’s flatulence. In Ireland, it’s a mere $18 per cow. In Denmark, it’s $110 per cow.
4. Playing Card Tax
Nevada gives out a free deck of cards for every tax return filed.
Alabama charges a playing card tax and the only U.S. state to charge a 10-cent tax on decks of cards bought in the state, Alabama uses the money to maintain playgrounds and highways.
5. Blueberry Tax
In Maine, blueberries are a major money-maker. In fact, it’s one of the biggest agricultural industries in the state, which means—you guessed it—there’s a tax.
This actually serves a very important purpose though: without the tax, Maine’s blueberries could easily be over-harvested. This way, the plants thrive, and the state makes 1.5 cents per pound.
6. Candy Tax
This one is tricky. In Chicago, candy may or may not be food. And whether or not it determines whether or not it gets taxed.
Candy made with flour is food and taxed as such. Candy made without flour (suckers and hard candy, for example) is candy, which means it’s taxed at 5.25%. The same applies to soft drinks: different levels of milk, soy, or fruit juice determine whether or not you’ll have to pay an extra 5.25% when you checkout.
7. Google Tax
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has a vendetta against Google, complaining that it deprives France of its cultural heritage because it scans French art and puts it in digital libraries. That may be why he imposed a tax on Google in France.
Or, maybe France just needed money. The Culture Ministry of France realized that if they were to tax online advertisements like the ones that show up on Google and Facebook, they could make $29 million a year. But fear not, the tax isn’t just for Google: AOL, Yahoo!, and Microsoft will also get taxed. The money will go to support artists and online cultural centers.