surtax

American  

[sur-taks, sur-taks, sur-taks] / ˈsɜrˌtæks, ˈsɜrˌtæks, sɜrˈtæks /

noun

1. an additional or extra tax on something already taxed.

2. one of a graded series of additional taxes levied on incomes exceeding a certain amount.

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verb (used with object)

1. to put an additional or extra tax on; charge with a surtax.

surtax British  

/ ˈsɜːˌtæks /

noun

1. a tax, usually highly progressive, levied on the amount by which a person's income exceeds a specific level

2. an additional tax on something that has already been taxed

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verb

1. (tr) to assess for liability to surtax; charge with an extra tax

surtax Cultural  

1. A tax added to an existing tax. To help finance the Vietnam War, for example, Congress imposed a surtax on the federal income tax.

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Etymology

Origin of surtax

1880–85; sur- ¹ + tax; cf. supertax, French surtaxe

Example Sentences

Jenkins noted that Lyndon Johnson was forced to seek an income surtax in 1968 because he was worried about possible negative reactions in gold and the dollar from the “guns and butter” U.S. policies.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

It could also raise the 3.8% surtax on net investment income.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Supermarket bosses highlighted that part of the government's business rates reforms posed a problem for the industry, in particular the so-called business rates surtax, which is being levied on all large commercial premises.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

Payroll taxes paid by employers are rising not only to cover payouts to unemployed workers but also a state surcharge and a gradually increasing federal surtax to help pay off the principal on the debt.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2024

We are not likely to discourage any service of genuine social value by a rapidly increasing surtax on incomes above that amount.

From Liberalism by Hobhouse, L. T. (Leonard Trelawny)

Related Words

• expense
• payment
• tax