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

These policies have included giving tax cuts to wealthy individuals and big corporations, cutting social programs, starving public projects of investment, and liberating industrial and financial corporations from regulatory oversight. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024

Along with the yacht, Handler will use the profits from the recent sale to pay tax obligations. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024

Proceeds from Wednesday’s sale are being used to buy a personal boat and pay tax obligations, Jefferies echoed, while adding that following the transaction, Handler will still own about 19.25 million Jefferies shares. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024

Ohio and Montana are consolidating tax brackets and Georgia is adopting a flat tax. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024

Under strict requirements, New Delhi will allow foreign electric vehicle companies to import up to 8,000 units per year at a 15% tax rate, well below the current 70% — or even 100% — on most EV imports. —William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

Theoretically, a district could raise the interest and sinking rate to pay for a bond but if the maintenance and operations rate drops, then then overall tax rate could drop too, or remain the same. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2024

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

Verb

In case that, you wouldn't be taxed on the gain until that time, though dividends or other income received in the meantime generally are taxable. —The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024

Or allow the tribes to set up their own betting platforms and for Santa Anita to do the same — both taxed by the state, of course. —Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

In 1978, Californians were being taxed out of their homes as local governments continually increased property taxes. —The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 12 Apr. 2024

As Indira Varma can attest, inhabiting Lady Macbeth eight times a week — in a production spanning four cities and five months, no less — is a gratifying but taxing affair. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

Many soldiers had been wounded at least once; the intensity of assault missions, however, could be more psychically than physically taxing. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Erdman supports a sales tax structure that taxes virtually all purchases while eliminating property, income and corporate tax. —Margery A. Beck, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024

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

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