“Taxman” is the Beatles song on Revolver that begins with the line “Let me tell you how it will be.” George Harrison wrote the song, with help from John Lennon, as a sharp commentary on Britain’s high taxation.
The track opens Revolver, released in the United Kingdom on 5 August 1966. Harrison sings lead vocals, while the recording features a distinctive count-in and spoken numbers that create an abrupt, satirical opening.
Harrison later explained that the song reflected the heavy tax burden faced by successful musicians in Britain. The lyrics mention Harold Wilson and Edward Heath, who were major political figures at the time, although the song is not a formal tax-policy document.
“Taxman” is sometimes misidentified as a Paul McCartney composition because McCartney contributed to the recording. Its credited writers are Harrison and Lennon–McCartney, with Harrison as the principal author.