# tax

/ˈtæks/ (US) · /tˈæks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tax
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. government levy

noun · CEFR B1

money that you must pay to the government based on your income, property, or the things you buy.

For teachers: a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.

- The government decided to increase the tax on cigarettes to discourage smoking.
- Economists argue that a progressive income tax system is essential for reducing wealth inequality within the national borders.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the system, but countable when referring to a specific type of charge.

### 2. a burden

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

something that is very difficult and takes a lot of your energy or time.

For teachers: a burdensome or excessive demand on one's resources, strength, or patience.

- The long commute was a heavy tax on his health and happiness.
- The constant need for secrecy placed a significant tax on the diplomat's mental well-being over the course of the negotiations.

### 3. to collect money

verb · CEFR B1

to require a person or business to pay a certain amount of money to the government.

For teachers: to impose a financial charge on a person, entity, or transaction for the purpose of generating public revenue.

- The city taxes local businesses to pay for the new park and library.
- The state legislature debated whether to tax digital services at the same rate as physical goods sold in retail stores.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as the person or the item being taxed.

### 4. to strain

verb · CEFR B2

to use a lot of someone's physical or mental strength.

For teachers: to make heavy demands on a person's abilities, endurance, or resources.

- The difficult math exam really taxed my brain.
- Climbing the steep mountain trail in the midday heat taxed the hikers' endurance to the limit.

## Examples

- The government plans to raise the tax on fuel next year.
- Most employees have income tax deducted directly from their monthly paychecks before they receive their salary.
- Economists often debate whether a progressive tax system, where higher earners pay a larger percentage, is more effective at reducing wealth inequality than a flat rate.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.