What’s That?! The Weirdest Things In The World To Be Taxed

"They'd tax the air we're breathing if they could," is not an unheard statement in most countries, especially those with governments battling to make a bit of money again.

But have you seen what is taxed in some countries? Odd choices, some of them.

Let's just say we're not holding our breath in Ireland just yet, don't let anyone with any influence on taxation see this article...

Global Post have researched a few of the world's strangest items that have been taxed, here are our top five.

In France...

Your Smartphones And Laptops

French President Francois Hollande is considering a tax on smartphone, laptops, tablets and iWhatsits. The reasoning came following a French principle called "cultural exception".

This is a policy that rules creative works like books, music, movies and other items that are part fo the French culture. Hollande believes if he taxes all the modern techhie items, he can use the 1 per cent levy to protect the country's cultural items.

France wants to tax THESE to keep its own culture alive... 

In the USA...

Your Flavoured Vodka

According to ABC News, distilled spirits in the US of A get a tax break if they're fruity-flavoured. President Obama's budget proposal wants to get rid of this loophole as it gives an unfair advantage to flavoured drinks...

Trouble if you're into flavoured vodka... 

In Russia...

Your Beard

The Russian beard tax began in the late 1600s and, thankfully for Russians, it's been abolished. Anyone who wanted to keep a beard at the time was taxed by having to buy a token that read, "This beard is a superflulous burden".

We're not kidding.

In Europe...

Your Cow's Farts

Eh-hem, we mean flatulence. Environmentalists in the EU are trying to keep methane at a minimum and cow flatulence is the leading cause of global warming, the result of their slow disgestion accounting for about 18 per cent of the world's greenhouse gases.

Slaughterhouses can have dense populations of cows creating large amounts of methane. Because of this EU nations, including Ireland, are taxing cow's rudies at varying rates.

Yeah, we're talking about you... 

In Canada...

Your Cereal Without Toys

So cereal with toys gets taxed normally in Canada, cereal boxes without toys are tax-exempt. No more fighting over the cereal bag then...