# taxable

/ˈtæksəbəɫ/ (US) · /tˈæksəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/taxable
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. subject to tax

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describes money you earn or things you own that you must pay tax on.

For teachers: subject to taxation by law; describing income or assets that are not exempt from government levies.

- Your total taxable income is calculated after you subtract your business expenses.
- The accountant identified several revenue streams that, while previously overlooked, were clearly taxable under the revised federal guidelines.

### 2. a taxed item

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

an item or amount of money that a person must pay tax on.

For teachers: an entity, asset, or sum of money upon which a tax is levied.

- The government keeps a list of all taxables, including luxury cars and houses.
- The legislative debate focused on whether digital services should be classified as taxables alongside traditional physical goods.

## Examples

- Your total salary is taxable income.
- The accountant explained that while some benefits are tax-free, most of the year-end bonus is considered taxable.
- Determining whether a gift constitutes a taxable event often depends on the total value of the transfer and the specific relationship between the donor and the recipient.

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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.