tax
gb/tˈæks/ us/tˈæks/
A2
English
~ 600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Money paid to government
Money you must pay to the government so it can provide services for everyone.
Usage pattern:
to pay [a/the] tax on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tax' (money paid) with 'fee' (payment for a specific service).
Synonyms
levy (More formal or technical term for a financial charge imposed by authority.)
Antonyms
subsidy (A payment given by the government instead of taken from citizens.)
Collocations
pay taxes
|income tax
|property tax
|tax bill
|tax rate
Themes
business
|government
|economics
|finance
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government increased the tax on cigarettes.
- They hired an accountant to help with their tax return.
- Property tax rates vary from city to city.
- Income tax is collected by the federal government.
- The new law will reduce taxes for small businesses.
Learner examples
- I have to pay tax on my salary.
- The tax on food is low.
- She paid the car tax yesterday.
- He does not like paying taxes.
- We must pay tax every year.
Verb
B1
action
2
To charge a tax
To make people or companies pay money to the government on certain things.
Usage pattern:
to tax [something] at [rate/amount]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'tax' (verb) with 'charge' in general business transactions; 'tax' is specific to government authority.
Synonyms
levy (Formal term for imposing a charge; often used in legal or policy contexts.)
Antonyms
exempt (To officially free someone from having to pay a tax.)
Collocations
tax goods
|tax income
|tax heavily
Themes
government
|business
|finance
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government decided to tax luxury items at a higher rate.
- They plan to tax sugary drinks to encourage healthier choices.
- The city will tax new construction projects.
- Alcohol is taxed differently in each state.
Learner examples
- The city will tax new cars.
- They want to tax sugar drinks.
- The shop must tax every sale.
- The country will tax foreign goods.
Verb
B2
action
3
To strain or burden
To make someone or something work very hard or feel a lot of stress.
Usage pattern:
to tax [someone's] [abilities/patience/resources]
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret this literally as involving money; here it's figurative for causing effort or stress.
Synonyms
strain (Focuses on the pressure or difficulty caused.)
Antonyms
relieve (To make pressure or difficulty less.)
Collocations
tax patience
|tax strength
|tax resources
Themes
emotions
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Caring for three young children can really tax your patience.
- The exam taxed the students’ problem-solving skills.
- This long hike will tax your endurance.
Learner examples
- The test will tax your mind.
- This job will tax your energy.
- Her patience was taxed by the delay.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tax
IPA
GB/tˈæks/
US/tˈæks/
Syllables & stress
tax (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tax)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tax
- Plural: tax, taxes
Verb
- Base: tax
- 3rd Person Singular: taxes
- Present Participle: taxing
- Past: taxed
Word family
Expressions
poll tax
1/pˈoʊl tˈæks/
fixed phrase
Fixed per-person tax charge
A set amount of money each person must pay as a tax, no matter how much they earn.
Examples
- Poll taxes were once used to restrict voting rights.
- The poll tax was eventually abolished.
tax break
1/tˈæks bɹˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
Reduction in taxes owed
When you have to pay less tax than usual because of special rules.
Examples
- The government is offering a tax break for electric car buyers.
- Families with children get a small tax break.
tax evasion
1/tˈæks ɪvˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
Illegal non-payment of taxes
The crime of not paying taxes you should pay, usually by hiding money or information.
Examples
- He was arrested for tax evasion.
- Tax evasion can lead to large fines and prison time.
tax hike
1/tˈæks hˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
Increase in taxes charged
When the government raises the amount of money people must pay in taxes.
Examples
- The proposed tax hike is unpopular with voters.
- A sudden tax hike could slow economic growth.
tax return
1/tˈæks ɹɪtˈɚn/
fixed phrase
Form reporting income to government
A form you send to the government that shows how much money you earned and how much tax you paid or owe.
Examples
- I have to file my tax return before April 15th.
- She got a refund after submitting her tax return.