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Meaning & use

taxes

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈtæksɪz/
US/ˈtæksɪz/

“taxes” is a form of “tax”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    Money that people must pay to the government, based on income, goods, or property.

    Grammar: This is the plural form; the singular is 'tax'. Use it when talking about more than one tax or taxes in general.

    Patterns

    • pay taxes
    • raise taxes
    • cut taxes
    • taxes on something

    The government plans to cut taxes for small businesses.

    She pays her taxes online every April.

    Higher taxes on cigarettes may reduce smoking.

  2. verbtransitive

    Charges a tax on someone or something; makes someone pay a tax.

    Grammar: Takes an object: tax somebody/something. Often used in the passive: be taxed.

    Patterns

    • tax somebody/something
    • be taxed on something

    The city taxes homeowners based on property value.

    Imported cars are heavily taxed in some countries.

    The new law taxes sugary drinks to improve public health.

  3. verbtransitive

    Tests someone's patience, strength, or abilities to the limit.

    Grammar: Takes an object: tax somebody's patience/strength. Often used in the passive: be taxed.

    Patterns

    • tax somebody's patience
    • tax somebody's strength
    • tax something to the limit

    The long delay taxed everyone's patience.

    Climbing the mountain taxed her strength.

    The complicated rules tax the abilities of even experts.

Word forms

singulartax
third person singulartaxes
past tensetaxed
past participletaxed
-ing formtaxing

Common combinations

pay taxes
Everyone must pay taxes by the deadline.
raise taxes
The mayor promised not to raise taxes.
cut taxes
Congress voted to cut taxes for families.
income taxes
Income taxes are deducted from your salary.
property taxes
Property taxes fund local schools.
tax evasion
He was arrested for tax evasion.

Synonyms and how they differ

levy
A formal word for an official tax or fee; 'tax' is the general everyday term.
duty
A tax on imported goods; 'tax' is broader and includes income tax.
tariff
A tax on imports or exports; 'tax' is more general.

Word family

taxable adjective
able to be taxed
taxation noun
the system of collecting taxes
taxpayer noun
a person who pays taxes
taxing adjective
difficult and tiring
taxi noun
a car with a driver you pay to take you somewhere (unrelated origin)

Commonly confused: taxes or taxis?

taxes vs taxis

Can mean a group of taxis or a medical procedure; 'taxes' is only about money or testing limits.

Practice

The government decided to ______ taxes to pay for the new hospital.

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