tax

tax¹ W1S1 [tæks] n

[U and C]

an amount of money that you must pay to the government according to your income, property, goods etc and that is used to pay for public services

tax on

▪ a tax on fuel

income/council/inheritance etc tax

▪ He already pays 40% tax on his income.

▪ the basic rate of tax

tax cuts/increases

direct tax

(=tax on income)

indirect tax

(=tax on things you buy)

before/after tax

▪ profits before tax of £85.9 m

▪ The total tax burden (=the amount of tax paid) has risen only slightly.

▪ The government has introduced tax incentives (=an offer of cheaper taxes to encourage people to do something) for fuel-efficient cars.

→↑capital gains tax

→corporation tax at ↑corporation, ↑income tax, ↑sales tax, ↑stealth tax, ↑VAT, ↑PAYE

tax ²

tax² v [T]

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: taxer 'to make a judgment about, tax', from Latin taxare 'to feel, make a judgment about, blame', from tangere; TANGIBLE]

1.) to charge a tax on something

tax sth at 10%/a higher rate etc

▪ They may be taxed at a higher rate.

tax sb on sth

▪ The individual is taxed on the amount of dividend received.

▪ Cigarettes are heavily taxed in Britain.

2.) BrE to pay the sum of money charged each year for using a vehicle on British roads

→↑car tax, ↑road tax

3.) to make someone have to work hard or make an effort

tax sb's patience/strength etc

▪ The kids are really taxing my patience today.

▪ It shouldn't tax your brain too much.

→↑taxing

tax with [tax sb with sth] phr v

to complain to someone they have done something wrong