Yes, they complained about high taxes. And the tax rate they complained about was NOTHING compared to what we have to pay.
A bit of research on taxes during the Roman empire shows:
1. Inheritance tax 5%.
2. Land tax, between 10 and 20%, mostly in the 10-15% range, taken in-kind, i.e., 10% of the harvest as tax where the tax payer owned the land. If the tax payer used public land, the rate was approximately 30%.
3. Instead of payment in kind, some provinces paid a monetary tax of 14 to 20% although it’s not clear what base this percentage applied to.
4. A “head tax” i.e., a flat rate tax paid per person. In some provinces only on men, in others on men, women and children. Did not apply to Roman citizens and the amount assessed varied from year to year and was different in different provinces.
5. Transport tax, similar to a tariff or duty, levied at the borders of provinces.
6. In addition to taxation, the emperor owned profit-making businesses, such as silver mines, the revenue from which went into his pocket, but he was also expected to pay for certain civic improvements and the like from his private revenue.
7. There were other taxes, such as on auctions.
Source: David S. Potter, THE ROMAN EMPIRE AT BAY AD 180–395,http://www.scribd.com/doc/17297008/THE-ROMAN-EMPIRE-AT-BAY-AD-180395
Jack
8:11 He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;
8:12 and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
8:13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
8:14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
8:15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.