The US gives the government the to collect taxes. Article 1, section 8, of the Constitution states the following: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States, but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States... According to the Constitution, for what two (2) purposes should Congress collect taxes? History of Taxation Until 1913, the federal government collected only taxes and (taxes) on goods. Excise taxes are charged on the purchase of goods, such as and They are often in the product's price. Aside from collecting the other important reason for levying excise taxes was to the consumption of specific goods. Currently, about of the total revenue from federal, and local governments comes from taxes