Forum Post: The official reason for income taxes - for WAR.

In order to help pay for its war effort in the American Civil War, the United States government imposed its first personal income tax, on August 5, 1861, as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US $800)

History tells us that income taxes was to be used to fund WARS and wars only. There you go with some history lesson. Diverting to social programs was not what income taxes should go toward. Pretty clear. And historically only 3% of income. Oh, sure, some WHINING numb nuts changed the income tax later,,, but the original reason was for WAR.