Taxation and Tithes

Gand runs a decentralised tax structure in which citizens are required to pay tax at quarterly intervals to the nearest major city or area that has a representative of the trade guild. The trade guild is in charge of nominating who owes tax and what it is then up to the nobles of the area to send out tax collectors to various districts or rural areas. Once the tax is collected it is then up to the nobles representing the area to forward this money to the king. This system is far from perfect as it creates a lot of exchange with leeway for theft and corruption. It's not uncommon to hear tales of local lords or governors skimming from the top before handing off money to the king. Or for members of the guild themselves to misrepresent the numbers. If found tampering with taxes the punishment for guild members commonly is imprisonment or hefty fees and to be ousted from the guild. For lords commonly the punishment may be either paying fines of the seizure of assists, such as land or livestock.  Larger settlements may choose to skip reporting to the major cities particularly if they have guild representation, this includes both Port Stoic and Rakside/ The Rakes' Hide. Rakside in particular favours this method as it keeps the king out of their business. Other tensions involve who hands the rights to collect tax as he districts are not always clear cut, Denmaerd is notoriously for overstepping their district to collect tax from sorrounding areas artificially inflating their wealth and tying into their reputation as the 'city. Of silk'. This has disasterous for poorer common folk whom have been over taxed or even taxed twice, leading to now more that ever civil disputes and rebellious as the farms struggle.