Cess

Definition	:	short for “assess”; the spelling is due to a mistaken connection with census
Category	:	Governmental » Rules & Regulations
Country/Region	:	Worldwide
Popularity	:

What does Cess mean?

Cess is a tax or levy imposed by the government.
The word "cess" is derived from the verb "cess," which means "to impose a tax upon." The verb "cess" was altered from its original spelling, "sess," which was a shortened form of "assess." The word "cess" first appeared in the 1530s, and it has been used to refer to a tax or a fee imposed by the government for specific purposes.
It is also believed that the term 'cess' originated from Irish farmers, as they had to pay the most tax on their crops to the government based on the success of their yield, with 'cess' being a derivative of 'assess.

In India, a cess is a tax on tax levied by the government for a specific purpose. It is usually levied as an additional charge over and above the normal tax rate and is used to raise funds for specific purposes. Once its purpose is solved they are stopped.
Examples:
Educational cess: meant to finance basic education in the country.
Krishi Kalyan cess: meant to develop the agricultural economy in the country.

In Scotland, cess refers to the land value tax.