Taxation and Tribute are payments imposed upon people by rulers. King Benjamin said he had labored “with mine own hands” so that his people “should not be laden with taxes” (Mosiah 2:14).
King Noah required “one fifth part of all they possessed,” including gold, silver, grain, fatlings, and named metals, to support himself, his household, and his priests (Mosiah 11:3-6). People in bondage to the Lamanites were “taxed with a tax which is grievous to be borne” and faced paying tribute to the king of the Lamanites (Mosiah 7:15).
Riplakish “did tax them with heavy taxes” and used the taxes to build spacious buildings, a throne, and prisons. He cast into prison those who would not be subject to taxes or could not pay them (Ether 10:5-6).