Power Grid: Taxes

Power Grid: Taxes is a promotional card released in 2013 as part of a fundraiser for the children's group Knaddeldaddel in Bremen. It is shuffled into the Power Grid power‑plant deck and behaves differently depending on when it is drawn. If it appears in Step 1 of the buying phase, the card is simply placed back under the deck and has no effect. If drawn in Step 2 or Step 3, it triggers a tax event: all players must pay 20% of their cash (rounded down) at the start of Phase 5, called Bureaucracy. After the tax is collected, the card is removed from the game and play continues as usual, with each player receiving their normal income for supplying cities. This adds an unexpected financial pressure, making players rethink their cash reserves before the turn ends. Because the card is unique, the effect happens only once per game, but it can dramatically shift the race for resources, especially in tight matches. No extra components are needed – just insert the card into the plant deck. Play time stays at 120 minutes, preserving Power Grid’s moderate complexity (weight 3.06/5). It suits 2–6 players who already enjoy the economic strategy of the base game and want a little extra spice without overhauling the core rules. The card can be bought from the BGG Geekstore or found in the 2014 issue of Spielbox magazine, serving both as a collector’s item and a game variant.