"These businessmen have always been walking around the streets and have no fixed residence. They are no different from refugees."
“I want to collect taxes from these businessmen, but I don’t know how to collect them!”
However, when Hu Changan heard this, he just smiled slightly: "Master Fan, I think we might as well change our thinking."
"Since it is difficult for the government to take the initiative to collect taxes from these businessmen, we might as well change our thinking and let these businessmen take the initiative to pay us taxes!"
At this time, Fan Min was stunned: "Shilang Hu, these businessmen have always been cunning and cunning. They won't pay taxes if they can."
"How virtuous and capable are you to make these cunning businessmen come to the government to pay taxes?"
Fan Min's doubts were written on his face.
He simply did not believe that Hu Changan could use such thunderous methods to make all the businessmen in the world pay their bills.
When Hu Changan heard this, he also smiled: "Master Fan, this matter is easy to handle."
"Wouldn't it be enough if businessmen who don't pay the money can't do business?"
"The government can first issue a unique certificate to each businessman."
"After paying taxes every year, the government can stamp the certificate."
"At the same time, the government can set up special inspection offices in various towns."
"Only businessmen who have certificates and have paid taxes can enter the city to do business."
"On the other hand, businessmen who have not paid taxes cannot enter the city to do business."
"In this way, wouldn't all businessmen be able to pay taxes voluntarily?"
When Fan Min heard this, he almost clapped his hands and praised him.
This strategy is really brilliant!
As long as these merchants want to do business in the city, they must pay taxes.
If they don't pay taxes, they won't even be qualified to do business in the city.
In this way, as long as the government sends one or two people to guard each city gate, it can ensure that all merchants in the world pay business taxes obediently!
But after Fan Min was excited for a moment, he had a new question: "Master Hu, your Hu family is also in business."
"Tell me, what is the appropriate business tax rate?"
At present, the commercial tax in the Ming Dynasty is one-thirtieth.
In other words, if merchants earn thirty taels of silver, they must pay one tael of silver in taxes to the government.
Such taxes are extremely light for businessmen.
Looking at Fan Min, Hu Changan smiled slightly and said: "Master Fan, I think this commercial tax is better to adopt a progressive tax system."
Progressive system?
Fan Min was stunned.
He has been an official for many years and has never heard of such a strange name.
Looking at Fan Min's confused eyes, Hu Changan also smiled and said: "This progressive system means that the more money you make, the more taxes you pay."
"Ordinary small businessmen and hawkers earn hard-earned money just like ordinary farmers."
"Such small businessmen and hawkers may not even have enough to eat. If we charge them high taxes, it will be too difficult for them."
"For this kind of small traders, I suggest that we can still collect one-thirtieth of the tax as before."
"And for those merchants that have reached a certain scale, I suggest that more taxes can be charged."
“The more you make, the more you charge.”
"Anyway, those wealthy businessmen are not short of money. There is no big difference between paying more taxes and paying less taxes to them."
"Instead of letting them squander this money, it is better to let them give this money to the country to improve the country's environment."
When Fan Min heard this, he was stunned for a moment.
But soon, he came back to his senses.
This method is really good!
Divide these merchants into different levels and then collect taxes, so as not to accidentally hurt the poor merchants, but also to collect high taxes from the big merchants.
Fan Min was excited.
At that moment, Fan Min took Hu Changan and discussed some specific details of commercial tax...
...
On this day, the traveling merchant Ahua was walking on the road to Yingtian City carrying a load.
This time, he collected some candies from a nearby village and planned to sell them in Yingtian City.
Soon, the gate of Yingtian City was in sight.
Ah Hua picked up the burden and walked towards the city gate as usual.
But this time, Ah Hua was stopped by the guards at the two city gates.
The guard asked Ah Hua angrily: "Are you going to the city to do business?"
When Ah Hua heard this, he also replied a little uneasily: "Yes. I wonder, sir, why did you detain me?"
When the guard heard this, he also waved his hand: "Hey, it's not a big deal."
"Have you heard of the business law that was introduced a few days ago?"
"No." Upon hearing this, Ah Hua shook his head honestly.
In the past few days, he had been buying candies in the suburbs and had never heard of this kind of thing in the city.
When the guard heard this, he also understood: "Forget it if you haven't heard of it. I'll let you go this time. But I won't do it next time!"
"Now the new business law stipulates that anyone doing business must go to the Hubu Yamen to apply for a business license."
"Only with a business license can you enter the city to trade."
"If you don't have a business license next time, you won't even be able to enter the gate of Yingtian City!"
When Ah Hua heard this, he thanked the guard again and again: "Thank you, big brother!"
"When I enter the city, I will definitely apply for the business license as soon as possible!"
After thanking the guard guarding the city, Ah Hua hurriedly walked towards the Hubu Yamen.
He doesn't want to be unable to enter the city gate next time!
Soon, Ah Hua arrived at the Hubu Yamen.
At this time, the Hubu Yamen was crowded with people.
The winding queue has no end as far as the eye can see.
On the side, several people dressed as soldiers and horses from the Five Cities were maintaining order in the team.
Ah Hua quickly pulled over one of the eldest brothers who was queuing up and asked, "Brother, aren't the people in front of me queuing up to apply for business licenses?"
When the elder brother heard this, he also gave Ah Hua a positive answer: "Of course. Anyway, I'm here to apply for a business license."
"It is said that in the future, only if you have a business license, you can go out to do business."
"Otherwise, you won't even be able to enter the city gate!"
When Ah Hua heard this, he could only sigh and ran to the back of the line to queue up.
Fortunately, the line queued up very quickly.
After a while, it was Ah Hua's turn.
When the staff of the Household Department saw Ah Hua, they casually said: "Take out your household registration card."
Upon hearing this, Ah Hua quickly took out the household registration card from his arms.
After the staff of the Household Department saw the word "merchant" on the household post, they quickly started to fill in a post.
After a while, the staff of the Household Department finished writing it.
After handing the post to Ah Hua, the staff member warned: "This is your business license. You must keep it safe."
"If you lose this certificate, it will cost twenty copper coins to replace it!"