There are all kinds of "mandatory" fees. I was taking care of personal business & paying the bills for a buddy of mine who went on deployment 7 or 8 years ago. I got his Natural Gas Bill and it was nearly $40. I called the gas company and was like "WTF? Nobody lives there, the hot water isn't even on and it's July, so the heat isn't being used." Turns out you pay a bit over $35 a month for the meter. Yep. You rent it, so they can use it to bill you with.
We pay "mandatory" recycling fee's. Got the garbage bill years ago and called them up and said "WTF? I don't recycle, I don't even have a bin for recycling." Our county commissioners passed an ordinance that mandated a "Recycling Fee" for EVERY SINGLE PERSON that receives garbage service. Whether they use it or not. I now have a recycling bin that I don't use, that I pay a fee for, on top of the recycling fee. AND, AND!!!, not only do we pay them for the service, but they double dip because they then sell the stuff to recycling centers and make money from it that way as well. So we basically do all the work and pay them for it to boot.
Kind of like sales tax in our state, or any other for that matter, the retailers are unpaid "Revenue Agents" for the state. It is their responsibility to collect it, account for it, then write the state a check.
I'm contemplating starting a side business and here's what I need; Federal Firearms License, State Business License, City Business License, State Firearms Dealers License (which takes 6 months and can only be obtained AFTER I receive my FFL). I get to pay Business & Occupation Tax to the State AND the City both, Sales Tax to the State, Income Tax to the Feds. And when you're in business for yourself, it's 15% right off the top (Self Employed Tax) to the Feds.
The sons-a-bitches are thieves and they will get you coming and going!!! Pursuit of Happiness? Sure. As long as you can afford to write a whole bunch of checks for the privilege.