a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc.

a burdensome charge, obligation, duty, or demand.

(of a government)

to demand a tax from (a person, business, etc.).

to demand a tax in consideration of the possession or occurrence of (income, goods, sales, etc.), usually in proportion to the value of money involved.

to lay a burden on; make serious demands on

to tax one's resources.

to take to task; censure; reprove; accuse

to tax one with laziness.

Informal . to charge

What did he tax you for that?

Archaic . to estimate or determine the amount or value of.

to levy taxes.

verb

unburden , exonerate , release

noun

assessment , bite * , brokerage , capitation , contribution , cost , custom , dues , duty , excise , expense , fine , giveaway , imposition , impost , levy , obligation , pork barrel * , price , rate , salvage , tariff , tithe , toll , towage , tribute , albatross * , charge , deadweight , demand , difficulty , drain , load , millstone * , onus , pressure , strain , task , weight , millstone

verb

assess , charge , charge duty , demand , demand toll , enact , exact , exact tribute , extract , impose , lay an impost , rate , require contribution , tithe , cumber , drain , encumber , enervate , exhaust , lade , load , make demands on , oppress , overburden , overtax , overuse , overwork , press hard on , pressure , prey on , push , put pressure on , saddle , sap , strain , stress , stretch , task , tire , try , weaken , wear out , weary , weigh , weigh down , weigh heavily on , weight , arraign , blame , censure , criminate , impeach , impugn , impute , incriminate , inculpate , indict , reproach , reprove , burden , freight , drive , denounce , admonish , call down , castigate , chastise , chide , dress down , rap , rebuke , reprimand , scold , upbraid , accuse , assessment , cess , contribution , custom , deplete , difficulty , dues , duty , excise , expense , fee , fine , impost , levy , obligation , octroi , onus , overload , settle , tariff , toll