Explore the origins and growth of the excise system in England and beyond, from its earliest forms to a mature branch of Inland Revenue.
This edition presents a concise, working history of the excise as a revenue and disciplinary instrument. It traces how duties evolved, how warehouses and codes changed the way tax was collected, and how officials navigated political and economic challenges over more than two centuries. Throughout, the narrative keeps a practical focus on procedures, governance, and the human side of enforcement.
- Learn how early impositions became a structured tax system and how “excise” shaped government revenue.
- See the development of instructions, codes, and the administration that guided officers in the field.
- Discover regional notes, such as the Islay distilling episode and the Isle of Man context, that illustrate how policies played out locally.
- Get a sense of the broader historical context, including parliamentary debates and the evolution of related offices and practices.
Ideal for readers of historical economics, public administration, and the history of taxation, this edition offers a clear, accessible look at how the excise branch grew from a simple levy to a complex, organized system.