Taxation system:
- Tax farming - Group called the farmer-general received the indirect taxes. They paid the State a set fee and kept anything extra that came from tax. This meant the government never received enough money to cover its spending. Led to borrowing and high interest. Many taxes were collected by officials who had bought the right to that position.
- Taille: land tax, direct, third estate taxes but mainly peasants.
- Vingtieme: 5% tax on income, direct, third estate taxed.
- Capitation: tax on people, direct, second and third estate taxed.
- Gabelle: salt tax, indirect, everyone taxed.
- Aidas: tax on food and drink, indirect, everyone taxed.
- Octrois: tax on goods entering a town, indirect, everyone taxed.