direct tax

noun

Government.

1. a tax exacted directly from the persons who will bear the burden of it (without reimbursement to them at the expense of others), as a poll tax, a general property tax, or an income tax.

direct tax

noun

1. a tax paid by the person or organization on which it is levied Compare indirect tax

Other Word Forms

• direct taxation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of direct tax¹

An Americanism dating back to 1785–90