Publicanus

Publicanus is a Latin term meaning “tax collector” or “public contractor.” In ancient Rome, the state often entrusted the collection of taxes and other revenues to private individuals or companies known as publicani. This arrangement, part of what is called tax farming, allowed the government to obtain revenue without maintaining a large bureaucracy, while contractors paid a fixed sum to the treasury and then collected the requisite taxes from provincials or clients. Publicani operated in various sectors, including provincial taxes, customs duties, and tolls, and were typically drawn from the equestrian order or other wealthy citizens.

The publicani typically obtained their rights through bidding for a district’s revenue contract, paying the agreed amount up front, and then keeping any excess collected beyond that sum. They employed agents and collectors and could exercise considerable coercive power to meet targets. The system was prone to abuses and required ongoing oversight, leading to resentment among provincials and frequent political controversy in Rome. Emperors and lawmakers periodically reformed the arrangements to curb extortion and improve accountability, though tax farming persisted in different forms into the later Empire.

In Christian literature and in English usage, the term publican is commonly used to refer to a tax collector, especially in the context of the New Testament. The word has since become a general historical and literary label for tax collectors, rather than a formal office in most periods.