Definition of: tax

(taks) noun
1. A compulsory contribution levied upon persons, property, or business for the support of government; by extension, any proportionate assessment, as on the members of a society.
2. A heavy demand on one's powers or resources; an onerous duty or requirement; a burden.
—direct tax A tax, as on property or income, which the taxpayer cannot shift to another person.
—excise tax An internal-revenue tax on domestic manufactures, levied before they are sold to the consumer. The term has been extended to include license duties.
—income tax A tax levied on the income or profits of individuals and of corporations. See CAPITAL LEVY.
—indirect tax A tax, such as a customs duty, paid by one person but ultimately shifted to the consumer.
—nuisance tax A tax which yields little benefit in proportion to the amount of discontent it causes.
—single tax A tax to be obtained from a single source, especially from a levy on land and natural resources, as a substitute for all other forms of taxation. The theory was first proposed by John Locke, and was elaborated and popularized in the 19th century by Henry George. [<v.]
—v.t.
1. To impose a tax on; subject to taxation.
2. Law To settle or fix (amounts) as duly chargeable in any judicial matter: to tax costs.
3. To subject to a severe demand; impose a burden or load upon; task: He taxes my patience.
4. To make an accusation against; charge; also, to blame; censure: usually with with. [<OF taxer <L taxare estimate, appraise. Related to TASK.]
—tax′a·bil′i·ty, tax′a·ble·ness noun
—tax′a·ble adjective
—tax′a·bly adverb
—tax′er noun Synonyms (noun): assessment, custom, demand, duty, exaction, excise, impost, rate, rating, toll, tribute.
Tax may appear as a combining form in hyphemes or solidemes, or as the first element in two-word phrases, with the meaning of definition 1: