Death duties in Harcourt's time were a comparatively modest 8 percent on estates valued at PS1 million or more, but they proved to be such a reliable source of revenue, and so popular with the millions who didn't have to pay them, that they were raised again and again until by the eve of the Second World War they stood at 60 percent--a level that would make even the richest eyes water. At the same time, income taxes were raised repeatedly and other new taxes invented--the Undeveloped Land Duty, the Incremental Value Duty, the Super Tax--all of which fell disproportionately on those with a lot of land and plummy accents.