Good answers already, but there is a better way than a tax. Give an incentive for people to register in the census, no need to even tell them they're being counted. Some countries do it every few years.

They take some of the tax money and give a small payment to everyone. So my country is going to go door to door and give everyone 150 to help with school fees and uniforms soon (school started a month ago, but it sounds great). So everyone is excited and not questioning any underlying motivations or what will be done with the records. Then probably in a short while we'll all have digital Id's. About 5 years ago it was 50 each person for some other reason I don't recall.

The first strategy was to make it illegal not to vote, so everyone had to register their details or face a big fine, but that only got voting age people and 10's of thousands especially in more remote villages couldn't afford to go into town and register anyway.

Good answers already, but there is a better way than a tax. Give an incentive for people to register in the census, no need to even tell them they're being counted. Some countries do it every few years.

They take some of the tax money and give a small payment to everyone. So my country is going to go door to door and give everyone 150 to help with school fees and uniforms soon out of kindness and love (school started a month ago, but it sounds great). So everyone is excited and not questioning any underlying motivations or what will be done with the records. Then probably in a short while we'll all have digital Id's they've been telling us we need. 

About 5 years ago it was 50 each person for some other reason I don't recall. But obviously it's an excellent way of getting everyones details and location for govt use.

Good answers already, but there is a better way than a tax. Give an incentive for people to register in the census. Some countries do it every few years.

They take some of the tax money and give a small payment to everyone. So my country is going to go door to door and give everyone 150 to help with school fees and uniforms soon (school started a month ago, but it sounds great). So everyone is excited and not questioning any underlying motivations or what will be done with the records. Then probably in a short while we'll all have digital Id's. About 5 years ago it was 50 each person for some other reason I don't recall.

The first strategy was to make it illegal not to vote, so everyone had to register their details or face a big fine, but that only got voting age people. Once the govt have peoples details they can be used in multiple ways.

Good answers already, but there is a better way than a tax. Give an incentive for people to register in the census, no need to even tell them they're being counted. Some countries do it every few years.

They take some of the tax money and give a small payment to everyone. So my country is going to go door to door and give everyone 150 to help with school fees and uniforms soon (school started a month ago, but it sounds great). So everyone is excited and not questioning any underlying motivations or what will be done with the records. Then probably in a short while we'll all have digital Id's. About 5 years ago it was 50 each person for some other reason I don't recall.

The first strategy was to make it illegal not to vote, so everyone had to register their details or face a big fine, but that only got voting age people and 10's of thousands especially in more remote villages couldn't afford to go into town and register anyway.