Smothering Tithe first appeared in Ravnica Allegiance in 2019 and quickly became a staple in Commander, where four-player games give it far more chances to trigger. The card's repeated question of whether a player will pay two mana turned into community shorthand, with players saying pay your taxes whenever someone drew a card. As Commander gameplay, deck techs and highlight clips spread online, the phrase detached from the card itself and became a standalone reaction for any moment where a player benefits unless someone else pays to stop it.