Why High Taxes?

[Skyforce43]

Why does everybody set high taxes? I mean, I'm playing as Hayasdan and I'm at 168BC or so and all my five cities taxes are set to very low but I still have positive income. So why set it high? Don't you think it's important to develop social and economic infrastructures by levelling up cities? I always do and always set taxes to very low, plus I don't need to post garrisons in those town so army upkeep is lower.

[Kryzantine]

Because setting it to very low taxes negatively affects your governor's administration?

At least, that's what I think.

[beatoangelico]

high taxes = more money for buildings = more developed cities

[mcantu]

it also slows down population growth...

[GreyFox]

it also slows down population growth...

Which in certain cases can be A Good Thing.

I always crank up taxes as high as they can go, because I never have enough money to do everything I want at the start of the game or to prosecute the wars I need to fight since I usually end up on a 2 or 3 front war against more than one opponent.

[King Arthur]

Hi Taxes stop corruption. They also increase the chances of your Govenors receiving positive traits - usually Administrative ones which will further increase your revenue. Of course the downside is a decrease in population growth and thus a slower time scale in achieving more advanced buildings; but a boom in population will lead to high levels of squalor which leads to unrest which leads too rioting!!! So it's a fine line really, but large Empires were built on the populations Taxes and tributes.

Perhaps use a low tax on newly conquered regions and as hapiness grows increase the tax level accordingly.

[Skyforce43]

Hi Taxes stop corruption. They also increase the chances of your Govenors receiving positive traits - usually Administrative ones which will further increase your revenue. Of course the downside is a decrease in population growth and thus a slower time scale in achieving more advanced buildings; but a boom in population will lead to high levels of squalor which leads to unrest which leads too rioting!!! So it's a fine line really, but large Empires were built on the populations Taxes and tributes.

Perhaps use a low tax on newly conquered regions and as hapiness grows increase the tax level accordingly.

Hey thanks, that really helped. Never knew about the governor trait gaining. I guess I'll just set high taxe to control population growth when the city reaches it's maxiimum level.

[Il Duce]

I use very high on a city to city basis, especially early in the game. As long as they're in the green, I keep them there. Good or bad?

[Lysander13]

I use very high on a city to city basis, especially early in the game. As long as they're in the green, I keep them there. Good or bad?

One has to pretty much play this way early on in order to survive. Nothing wrong with it. Once things settle down so to speak then perhaps it's on a city by city basis. Unless one is like me and likes to play his campaigns like a tax and spend liberal....

[gaius valerius]

If you can afford low taxes - which not all factions can in the beginning - I mostly use them to have my cities grow. Especially in the beginning of the game I sometimes set my taxes to low. I always do it with towns who have less than 2000 inhabitants. As soon as they have about 3000-4000 populace I switch to high taxes to increase income. I need all the money If not now, then I will later.

[kingsword]

I'm unsure if the lowered population cap will actually result in a loss overall in cities with like 4000-5000 trade income and 40000 population.

[Papal_Knight]

I use very high on a city to city basis, especially early in the game. As long as they're in the green, I keep them there. Good or bad?

that's how I run it. can't see the downside of it. especially if you are campaigning militarily, taking enemy cities, and choosing the "eslave population" option once they are conquered; then population gets added to all of your governed cities regardless. a win-win situation.

works for me!

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Less than 2000 people - Low taxes (to boost population growth).
Less than 6000 people - High taxes.
Over 6000 people - Very High taxes (to reduce population growth).

That's my recommendation. Unless you're short of money, in which case you'll have to tax the smaller towns more heavily.