diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 05332517..47385c0b 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -697,8 +697,7 @@ extern int prod_plane(int, int, struct bp *, int);
 extern void populace(struct natstr *, struct sctstr *, int);
 extern int total_work(int, int, int, int, int, int);
 /* prepare.c */
-extern void tax(struct sctstr *, struct natstr *, int, int *, int *,
-		int *, int *);
+extern void tax(struct sctstr *, int, int *, int *, int *, int *);
 extern int upd_slmilcosts(natid, int);
 extern void prepare_sects(int, struct bp *);
 extern int bank_income(struct sctstr *, int);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/budg.c b/src/lib/commands/budg.c
index 83efbf71..7b205b3e 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/budg.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/budg.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ calc_all(int p_sect[][2],
 	bp_set_from_sect(bp, sp);
 	if (sp->sct_own == player->cnum) {
 	    sp->sct_updated = 0;
-	    tax(sp, np, etu, &pop, &civ_tax, &uw_tax, &mil_pay);
+	    tax(sp, etu, &pop, &civ_tax, &uw_tax, &mil_pay);
 	    *Ncivs += sp->sct_item[I_CIVIL];
 	    *Nuws += sp->sct_item[I_UW];
 	    *taxes += civ_tax + uw_tax;
diff --git a/src/lib/update/prepare.c b/src/lib/update/prepare.c
index 2bb2d628..9252dbd8 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/prepare.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/prepare.c
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ prepare_sects(int etu, struct bp *bp)
 	if (np->nat_stat != STAT_SANCT) {
 	    guerrilla(sp);
 	    do_plague(sp, np, etu);
-	    tax(sp, np, etu, &pops[sp->sct_own], &civ_tax, &uw_tax,
-		&mil_pay);
+	    populace(np, sp, etu);
+	    tax(sp, etu, &pops[sp->sct_own], &civ_tax, &uw_tax, &mil_pay);
 	    np->nat_money += civ_tax + uw_tax + mil_pay;
 	    if (sp->sct_type == SCT_BANK)
 		np->nat_money += bank_income(sp, etu);
@@ -104,15 +104,9 @@ prepare_sects(int etu, struct bp *bp)
 }
 
 void
-tax(struct sctstr *sp, struct natstr *np, int etu, int *pop, int *civ_tax,
+tax(struct sctstr *sp, int etu, int *pop, int *civ_tax,
     int *uw_tax, int *mil_pay)
 {
-    *civ_tax = 0;
-    *uw_tax = 0;
-    *mil_pay = 0;
-
-    if (!player->simulation)
-	populace(np, sp, etu);
     *civ_tax = (int)(0.5 + sp->sct_item[I_CIVIL] * sp->sct_effic *
 		     etu * money_civ / 100);
     /*