Tekalif-i orfiye

rdf:langString Tekalif-i orfiye

rdf:langString Tekalif-i örfiye was a type of taxation in the Ottoman Empire. Tekalif-i orfiye was a blanket terms for several different ad hoc charges which were, initially, extraordinary taxes raised in war-time. They were variously paid in cash or in kind, and rates could vary (to an extent), depending on the community's ability to pay. By the time of the Tanzimat reforms, tekalif-i orfiye included ninety different excise taxes. Tekalif dues became high in the 17th century. However, the Ottoman Empire's complex web of tax exemptions also touched on tekalif; taxpayers could be exempted for public service (for instance, by running a hostel for pilgrims), and sometimes a district's could be exempted due to exceptional hardship (for instance, if the district had already paid heavily towards other taxes, or been ravaged by warfare). Some Janissaries were exempted from tekalif-i orfiye although Janissary status could be effectively hereditary rather than a real military role. A muafname might exempt a community from some or all tekalif-i orfiye.