Death tax

A death tax was a fee levied by the Company upon the relatives of the deceased. After the tax was raised seventeen percent by the Collector, D-Grade worker Cordo - who had selected the expensive Golden Death - was unable to meet the debt. This amount included fees for mercy attendants and a disposal fee and its associated ad volorem tax of ten percent. Subtracted from this were the seven talmars Cordo's father had contributed and "the recycling allowance on his death weight of eighty four kilos", which was eight talmars, leaving the debt at one hundred and seventeen talmars. Cordo fled to the undercity to avoid the Company's reprisals. (TV: The Sun Makers)