Myt
Myt
one of the oldest Russian taxes; also, the place where the tax was collected. The myt is first mentioned in documents from the 12th century. In the mid-13th century the myt was collected from goods transported through tollgates near towns and large settlements. There was a sukhoi myt (customs duty on goods carried overland) and a vodianoi myt (customs duty on goods transported by boat). The right to impose the myt belonged to the state, but its collection was frequently entrusted to feudal lords. The myt gave rise to various other tolls, most of which were abolished by the Trade Statute of 1653. From 1653 to 1753, the myt was a 5 percent customs duty imposed in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod on lumber, hay, cattle, food (other than bread), and other goods. It was collected at points known as mytnye dvory.