The Beatles' song 'Taxman' was inspired by Britain's tax structure.

The BBC banned the Beatles' song 'A Day in the Life' for 5 years, fearing it encouraged drug use.

The Beatles were not an immediate success in the US—their label rejected their first two singles, and the band was mocked on the TV show 'American Bandstand.'

An American Beatles album featured a bizarre, gruesome image of the band as butchers, which was swiftly recalled.

The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows,' the final track from 1966's 'Revolver,' used innovative recording methods—including a rudimentary form of sampling—to redefine the sound of popular music.

The Beatles' labels released almost twice as many of the band's records in the US to capitalize on the band's popularity.

Tina Turner had to change the lyrics referencing American Express in 'Private Dancer' to comply with British advertising laws

In her 1984 hit, "Private Dancer," Turner sings "American Express Will Do Nicely, Thank You." However, advertising laws in England prohibited mentions of companies, leading Turner to release another version of the song with the lyric "A Few Pounds Sterling Will Do Nicely, Thank You."

The American girl groups of the 1950s and '60s had a profound influence on The Beatles, who frequently paid homage to acts like the Marvelettes and the Ronettes

Why the rich don't pay taxes like you do

The system behind the US income tax isn't as straightforward as it looks. You earn money. Taxes get taken out. Case closed … right? Not exactly. In this episode of "1440 Explores," we break down how the US tax system actually works, from confusing deductions and misunderstood tax brackets to why the wealthiest Americans often end up paying a very different tax than everyone else.

'No taxation without representation' was championed by British lawmaker William Pitt

British parliamentarian William Pitt laid out the argument supporting “no taxation without representation,” a major feature of the colonial debate around the Stamp Act in 1765. Arguing taxes are valid, Pitt acknowledged they aren’t if those taxed don’t have representation in the body that passes the tax laws.

Read why the information Americans have about our tax system might be misleading

For many, filing taxes can be complicated and overwhelming. Some argue that the tax system obscures certain aspects of the US tax code, making it difficult for taxpayers to accurately assess potential reforms.

Bob Dylan wrote and recorded songs that later became hits when they were covered by artists like Jimi Hendrix, Adele, and Guns N' Roses.

After the bitter breakup of the Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney only played music together one more time—at an impromptu studio session in 1974, joined by Stevie Wonder.

The US national anthem borrows its melody from 'The Anacreon Song,' a bawdy British tavern song that was popular in the 19th century.

The Beatles stopped touring in 1966, citing frustration with the era's limited sound systems.

The IRS—a division of the US Treasury Department that enforces the Internal Revenue Code, collects taxes, and enforces tax laws—has been a frequent victim of arson over the years.

The Beatles tried to get the rights to make a 'Lord of the Rings' film starring the band members as Gollum, Frodo, Gandalf, and Samwise.

The Beatles' appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1964 launched Beatlemania in the US after the band struggled to break through to American audiences.

On July 1, 1862, the agency now known as the Internal Revenue Service was established and named the Bureau of Internal Revenue

It was created to collect the first-ever US income tax, which was created to help pay for the Civil War. After gaining their independence from Britain, Americans were skeptical about giving the federal government absolute power to collect federal income taxes. As a result, early US tax laws dictated that direct taxes, like income taxes, had to be directly apportioned to a state's population. The nation went back and forth on its federal tax laws multiple times. For instance, in 1872, the income tax from the Civil War was repealed. But it was revived in 1894, and then repealed again in 1895. In 1913, Congress passed the 16th Amendment, giving Congress the power to levy income taxes on individuals and corporations without apportioning the burden among the states in line with population, once and for all.

Explore all 58 famous figures—including artists, thinkers, politicians, athletes, and other pop culture icons—portrayed on the Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album cover.

The US officially adopted an income tax in 1913

The US first levied income taxes during the Civil War, but modern income taxes became an American fixture in 1913. Two years earlier, Congress passed the 16th Amendment to give the government the right to tax individuals' and businesses' income. The US still technically levies the same federal income tax now as it did then—though it's evolved.

Listen to "Yesterday and Today," the 1966 Beatles album only released in the US.

Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 pay nearly 30% of all income taxes, paying an average tax rate of around 17%.

The Beatles once sued Nike

Nike used The Beatles' "Revolution" in an ad, sparking a $15M lawsuit over the song's use. While The Beatles and Nike ultimately reached an agreement, Nike ushered in the modern practice of using hit songs in advertisements, as opposed to jingles or covers.

Paul McCartney said the Beatles' 'Helter Skelter' was about a playground slide, but Charles Manson said it inspired him to orchestrate 9 murders.

Over a century ago, fewer than 1% of Americans paid income taxes—but the cost of World War II prompted the federal government to greatly expand the number of people required to pay income taxes.

Hear how the Beatles became the most influential band on Earth, with guest Conan O'Brien.

'All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.'

- Musician George Harrison (1943–2001)

The Clash's breakthrough hit wasn't listed on ‘London Calling’

“Train in Vain” was a hit in the US, something that hadn’t yet happened for other first-wave punk acts. But the song was added to “London Calling” at the last minute, after the record jackets were already printed, making it one of the more popular “hidden tracks” in popular music.

The Beatles' visit with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi helped inspire Western interest in Eastern spirituality

The Fab Four met with the guru—the creator of Transcendental Meditation—in 1968 in Rishikesh, India. The band's George Harrison and his wife had been interested in Indian culture for several years, but the meeting with Maharishi signified a meeting of Western popular culture with Eastern spirituality that would inspire the rising hippie movement.

Since 1913, Americans have paid income taxes at varying rates

In the 2020s, the top marginal tax rate has floated around 37%, relatively lower than previous eras. Some have called for boosting the rate significantly to tax the highest earners.

Paul McCartney announced his departure from the Beatles in a 1970 press release, surprising his bandmates.

Lorne Michaels jokingly offered the Beatles $3K to reunite on 'Saturday Night Live,' which John Lennon and Paul McCartney briefly considered.

The Beatles sued technology company Apple in 1978 to defend naming rights to their record label, Apple Corps.

The Rolling Stones got their name from a Muddy Waters song

The band was set to play a live session on the BBC in 1962, though they still didn't have a name. When guitarist Brian Jones spoke to Jazz News magazine about the upcoming appearance, he realized the group still didn't have a name. He saw Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone" record on the ground and decided in that moment that it would be the name of the band.

Some people believe Paul McCartney died in a car crash in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike.

The 'playing card' and 'blueberry' taxes are among the strangest around the world

In Canada, companies making children’s breakfast cereals are granted a tax exemption if their cereal boxes contain free toys. While the exemption is limited to toys that are not “beer, liquor, or wine,” the cereal tax is far from the world's most eccentric tax.

Created in 1862, the IRS has a scandalous history

From Al Capone's tax evasion to corruption and bribery within the IRS, the government agency has had its fair share of scandals. This article details many of them, outlining corruption that reveals this seemingly boring agency as anything but.