Income and Investments The History of the Treasury: Our Nation’s Money Manager Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam Published Sep 2, 2014 2 min read Did you know that exactly 225 years ago, the United States Department of Treasury was established? For all you history or finance buffs, that makes it the second oldest department in the federal government – right after the State Department. Today, the Department of the Treasury is known as the financial arm of the United States, tasked with accounting, revenue collection, money production, and economic policy formulation. But before it took its rightful place in history, its journey began during the American Revolution. The Backstory: Realizing that our fight for independence would need financial weight, Congress had to find a solution to levy and collect taxes, and secure funds from foreign investors and governments. This required the colonies to band together to contribute funds, alleviating the nation from growing national debt. One little known document also helped here – the Declaration of Independence – as this granted the U.S. to secure loans from abroad. But it wasn’t until this historic date in 1789, when President George Washington officially recognized the department as a permanent government institute for managing finances. To solidify the group’s cause, Alexander Hamilton took charge as the first Secretary of the Treasury – and still holds a place in U.S. currency as the proud face of the $10 bill. What the Department Does Today: Through American history, the department has evolved, but its primary function remains the same, to manage the country’s finances. Today, it is organized into two major factions, the departmental offices and the operating bureaus. The departmental offices formulate policy and manage the overall department, and the operating bureaus handle the day-to-day operations. So what are the day-to-day functions (HINT: are taxes included)? Economic (domestic and international) and fiscal policy Government accounting, cash, and debt management Organize and implement tax and tariff laws Calculate and collect internal revenue Produce coin and currency Supervise national banks and thrifts So there you have it – the history of America’s money. Celebrate today by working towards a savings goal or paying off a little debt, Alexander Hamilton would be thoroughly impressed! Previous Post Money Saving Tips for Students Working Summer Jobs Next Post Bonus Round: 5 Tips for Your Work Bonus Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam More from TurboTaxBlogTeam Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles 401K, IRA, Stocks Stocks, Bonds and Other Ways to Make Your Money Grow Health Care Affordable Care Act Update: Treasury Announces Expande… Income and Investments Unclaimed Property and Cash? (How to Find Your Unclaime… Taxes 101 History of U.S. Savings Bonds Tax News Debt Ceiling Limit Increase Voted Into Law: What Does … Tax Refunds Why is My Tax Refund Not What I Expected? Tax Refunds Tax Refund Offsets Explained Tax News How Does Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief and the Tax Year… Tax News Why Haven’t I Received My Second Stimulus Check? Tax News First Coronavirus Relief Update: Executive Orders Signe…