Word
taxpayer
Phoneticstax·pay·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtækˌspeɪɝ/
UK/tˈækspeɪɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person or company that pays money to the government. This money is used to pay for public services like schools, roads, and hospitals.
n. a person or legal entity that pays taxes to a government or municipal authority. Often used collectively to refer to the general public in the context of government spending.
Examples
“The government must listen to the concerns of the average taxpayer.”
“Local taxpayers are demanding more transparency regarding how their property taxes are spent on city infrastructure.”
“The proposed legislation aims to reduce the burden on the individual taxpayer while closing loopholes that allow large corporations to avoid their fiscal responsibilities.”
Examples
simple
“The government must listen to the concerns of the average taxpayer.”
contextual
“Local taxpayers are demanding more transparency regarding how their property taxes are spent on city infrastructure.”
complex
“The proposed legislation aims to reduce the burden on the individual taxpayer while closing loopholes that allow large corporations to avoid their fiscal responsibilities.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “taxpayer” in context.
Verb
01. burden the taxpayer
“Critics argue that the stadium's construction will unfairly burden the taxpayer for decades.”
verb + noun
02. reimburse the taxpayer
“The company was ordered to reimburse the taxpayer for the cleanup costs following the oil spill.”
verb + noun
03. save the taxpayer money
“Streamlining administrative processes could save the taxpayer millions of dollars annually.”
verb + noun + noun
Adjective
04. corporate taxpayer
“The government is reviewing the subsidies provided to every major corporate taxpayer in the energy sector.”
adj + noun
05. law-abiding taxpayer
“The new legislation aims to protect the interests of the law-abiding taxpayer.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. taxpayer money
“There are concerns about how taxpayer money is being allocated to private contractors.”
noun + noun
07. burden on the taxpayer
“The rising cost of the healthcare system places a significant burden on the taxpayer.”
noun + prep + noun
Preposition
08. at the expense of the taxpayer
“The failed bank was bailed out at the expense of the taxpayer.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Usage
Often used in the singular with a definite article ('the taxpayer') to represent the entire tax-paying population.
Real-World Examples
“The government had previously said any extension would depend on the plant meeting all required safety standards and not imposing additional costs on taxpayers.” “The by-election is estimated to have cost taxpayers about £250,000.” “It cost the taxpayer about £250,000, after the government said it would be illegal for Reform to cover the costs, as the party had offered.” “What went wrong with the government's planning and buying of vital items like gloves and gowns that cost taxpayers billions of pounds.” Etymology
From tax + payer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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