Tax collector

The term could also be applied to those who audit tax returns or work for a revenue agency.

Tax collectors are often portrayed negatively, and in the modern world share a similar stereotype to that of lawyers.

[citation needed] Historically taxes were collected directly by the King or ruler of a State.

As states and administrative regions grew larger this task was outsourced to aristocrats or dedicated tax collectors.

They were reviled by the Jews of Jesus' day because of their perceived greed and collaboration with the Roman occupiers.