Ferme générale
HISTORICAL TAX COLLECTION SYSTEM IN FRANCE
Farmers-General; Fermier Général; Ferme Générale; Fermier général; Fermier general; Ferme Generale; Fermier General; Ferme generale; General Farm; Fermes du Roi
The ferme générale (, "general farm") was, in ancien régime France, essentially an outsourced customs, excise and indirect tax operation. It collected duties on behalf of the King (plus hefty bonus fees for themselves), under renewable six-year contracts.