taxpayer
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.
“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.”
Often used in the singular with a definite article ('the taxpayer') to represent the entire tax-paying population.
Usage taxpayer money
“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.”
Common in business and health writing
From tax + payer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.