 When further complaints arose that the poor were being overly taxed , Nero attempted to repeal all indirect taxes . The Senate convinced him this action would bankrupt the public treasury . As a compromise , taxes were cut from 4 @.@ 5 % to 2 @.@ 5 % . Additionally , secret government tax records were ordered to become public . To lower the cost of food imports , merchant ships were declared tax @-@ exempt . 
 When further complaints arose that the poor <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> being overly taxed , Nero attempted to repeal all indirect taxes . The Senate convinced him this action would bankrupt the public treasury . As a compromise , taxes <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> cut from 4 @.@ 5 % to 2 @.@ 5 % . Additionally , secret government tax records <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> ordered to become public . To lower the cost of food imports , merchant ships <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> declared tax @-@ exempt . 
When further complaints arose that da poor was being overly taxed , Nero attempted to repeal all indirect taxes . The Senate convinced em dis action would bankrupt the public treasury . As a compromise , taxes was cut from 4 @.@ 5 % to 2 @.@ 5 % . Additionally , secret government tax records was ordered to become public . To lower the cost of food imports , merchant ships was declared tax @-@ exempt .