CHAPTER III
THE MISSOURI TAX SYSTEM

* HE term “tax system” is a misnomer when applied to
1 the aggregate of sources from which the tax revenues of
a state such as Missouri are derived. The word system
 implies that the total taxes collected are obtained from
such sources and in such a manner that approximate equality
of burden is maintained, and also that there is a definite coordination
 of the various sources of tax revenues, with the
net result that no particular group of taxpayers can have
occasion to complain because of any unreasonable discrimination.
 If such a result could be achieved at any given time,
it is doubtful that it could long be maintained, for, with the
constantly changing economic conditions of the different
groups of taxpayers, the maintenance of even approximate
equality represents a most difficult task.
While it might be desirable to restrict the use of tax
system to those cases in which the highest possible degree of
equity had been attained through proper co-ordination of
the several tax sources, such restriction would deprive us
of a convenient collective term. For this reason tax system
is used in this study to designate briefly the aggregate of the
several taxes used by a governmental unit.
Before considering the several taxes that comprise the
Missouri tax system it is important to examine the constitutional
 provisions concerning taxation. A proper understanding
 of the tax system in its present form is not possible
without appreciation of the fact that there are certain provisions
 in the fundamental law which impose conditions that
must be observed in formulating changes in the revenue
system of the state. While it is possible to amend the constitutional
 provisions, it is nevertheless true that these restrictions
 influence fundamentally the trend of development
 of the tax system.