charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government
"The city council voted to raise the annual property tax to fund new schools and repair bridges."
Money paid to the government other than for transaction-specific goods and services.
"The new policy raised the annual income tax, requiring every worker to send a portion of their yearly earnings directly to the government regardless of what products they bought or sold."
In plain English: A tax is money that you must give to the government so they can pay for things like roads and schools.
"The new tax on sugary drinks is expected to raise significant revenue for the city."
To impose and collect a tax from (a person or company).
"The city council voted to tax every new construction project within the downtown district."
In plain English: To tax means to put a heavy burden on someone or something, making it very difficult for them to handle.
"The new law will tax large corporations at a higher rate than small businesses."
Usage: Use this verb when describing an authority's action of levying money on someone, such as the government taxing businesses. It is often confused with similar terms like assess or fine, but specifically refers to mandatory contributions for public services rather than penalties.
The word "tax" comes from the Latin taxō, meaning "to appraise or value," and entered Middle English through French. It eventually replaced the native Old English word gafol, which had previously been used to mean tribute or rent.