tax

1 of 3

noun

ˈtaks 

often attributive

1

a

: a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes

b

: a sum levied on members of an organization to defray expenses

2

: a heavy demand

tax

2 of 3

verb

taxed; taxing; taxes

transitive verb

1

: to levy a tax on

2

: to make onerous and rigorous demands on

the job taxed her strength

3

: charge, accuse

taxed him with neglect of duty

also : censure

4

: to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs in a court action)

5

obsolete : to enter (a name) in a list

there went out a decree … that all the world should be taxed

—Luke 2:1 (King James Version)

taxable

ˈtak-sə-bəl 

adjective

taxer noun

tax-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or taxo- or less commonly taxi-

: arrangement

taxeme

taxidermy

Synonyms

Noun

• assessment
• duty
• imposition
• impost
• levy

Verb

• strain
• stretch
• test
• try

Examples of tax in a Sentence

Noun

The decision was made to raise taxes.

He was accused of evading taxes.

What was your income before taxes?

What is the amount of tax to be paid?

What was your income before tax?

Verb

He believes in taxing the rich to give to the poor.

You are taxed according to your income.

puzzles that tax your brain

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here's how to get a tax extension from the IRS in 2024 Track and field gold medalists will get $50,000 at Olympics How far will CD rates fall if the Fed cuts rates? —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2024

There is no state tax, the state Department of Revenue said. —Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024

Hunter Biden also has pleaded not guilty to federal tax crimes in a separate case brought by Weiss in California, facing up to 17 years in prison if convicted. —Tom Hals, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024

For many people, tax season isn't only about gathering W-2 forms or calling an accountant. —Adriana Morga, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024

The law is intended to motivate developers to build more affordable and workforce housing through tax incentives. —Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2024

And basically, the tax film credit is going to allow the producers to get their money back. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024

But tax experts note that the filer still must pay a sizable amount of the tax owed by the original filing deadline to avoid interest and late-payment penalties. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024

The Congress had its bank accounts frozen by federal tax authorities and said it was asked to pay a further $218 million in taxes. —Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

Verb

The Royals say their project also depends on help from city government on things like zoning, street closures, land acquisition, formation of one or more special taxing districts and a sales tax exemption for construction materials. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024

The winner’s state of residence will also impact their take-home amount as some states like Texas and California don’t tax lottery winnings, while others like New York and New Jersey levy between 5% to 10.9%. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

A lot of potential for solid relief in what was heavily taxed bullpen last year. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024

Sharing content is less an act of generosity than a tiresome ask—a request for attention and validation from someone who is already taxed to the gills with liking, responding, and reacting to the infinite scroll. —Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024

And given that more people will play as a jackpot goes higher, the odds of having multiple winners ‒ who'll split the jackpot that's also subject to being heavily taxed ‒ are another variable among many. —Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

Sitting at a computer all day can be taxing on our bodies. —Claire Peltier, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024

Since dividends are taxed directly as income of the shareholders, taxing corporate profits taxes the same income twice and takes away the funds that would otherwise be invested in America’s future. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024

The multipart proposal, structured to force state senators to haggle, seeks an amendment to the Maryland Constitution that would legalize and tax online poker and other internet gambling. —Erin Cox, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to estimate, assess, tax, from Anglo-French taxer, from Medieval Latin taxare, from Latin, to feel, estimate, censure, frequentative of tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2

Combining form

Greek taxi-, from taxis

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing tax

• after-tax
• anti-tax
• direct tax
• estate tax
• death tax
• alternative minimum tax
• excise tax
• hidden tax
• (income) tax return
• income tax
• flat tax
• inheritance tax
• negative income tax
• personal tax
• payroll tax
• nuisance tax
• poll tax
• property tax
• proportional tax
• single tax
• severance tax
• sin tax
• stamp tax
• tax abatement
• sales tax
• tax base
• tax break
• tax burden
• tax credit
• tax-deductible
• tax-deferred
• tax disc
• tax-exempt
• tax-free
• tax exile
• tax haven
• tax fiddler
• tax refund
• tax selling
• tax stamp
• value-added tax
• tax with
• withholding tax
• tax shelter
• pre-tax

Kids Definition

tax

1 of 2 verb

ˈtaks 

1

: to require to pay a tax

2

: to accuse of something

taxed them with carelessness

3

: to make heavy demands on : strain

taxed our strength

taxer noun

tax

2 of 2 noun

1

: a charge usually of money set by authority on persons or property for public purposes

2

: something (as an effort or duty) that makes heavy demands : strain

Legal Definition

tax

1 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs of an action in court)

2

: to levy a tax on

tax the corporation

tax capital gains

taxer noun

tax

2 of 2 noun

often attributive

1

: a charge usually of money imposed by legislative or other public authority upon persons or property for public purposes

2

: a sum levied on members of an organization to defray expenses

Etymology

Transitive verb

Medieval Latin taxare to assess for taxation, tax, from Latin, to assess, value, fix