Depending on your philosophy of government, you might say that any inherent power of taxation is non-existent.
The power of taxation is given to the government by the people to the extent that it serves their needs--according to at least one philosophy of government. A person only has an inherent power to tax him/herself, that is, to set aside a portion of the excess for a social purpose. The person can give that power away, but nobody else can take it without permission or assume it for themselves.
A different philosophy of government might designate "the state" as the primary entity, to which individuals are inherently subservient. According to that philosophy, "the state" has an inherent power of taxation--indeed all produce belongs to the state. The state may generously allow the individual to keep some portion for him/herself.
Religious philosophy tends toward the latter, where "the state" is replaced by "God" to whom all things belong and from whom all things are given. (Religions mess up by assigning individuals to act on behalf of God--who can actually take care of herself quite nicely, thank you.)
The power of taxation is given to the government by the people to the extent that it serves their needs--according to at least one philosophy of government. A person only has an inherent power to tax him/herself, that is, to set aside a portion of the excess for a social purpose. The person can give that power away, but nobody else can take it without permission or assume it for themselves.
A different philosophy of government might designate "the state" as the primary entity, to which individuals are inherently subservient. According to that philosophy, "the state" has an inherent power of taxation--indeed all produce belongs to the state. The state may generously allow the individual to keep some portion for him/herself.
Religious philosophy tends toward the latter, where "the state" is replaced by "God" to whom all things belong and from whom all things are given. (Religions mess up by assigning individuals to act on behalf of God--who can actually take care of herself quite nicely, thank you.)
