direct tax

American  

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.

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direct tax British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• direct taxation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of direct tax

An Americanism dating back to 1785–90

Compare meaning

How does direct-tax compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• direct tax vs. indirect tax

Example Sentences

But no direct tax cuts have been announced on personal incomes.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026

But unlike those deals, which used direct tax abatements, private developers and studios must hit certain goals to receive expansive tax credits.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2023

Hense said a sticking point from an index provider perspective was that the EU does not have access to direct tax receipts.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2023

“It is funded by the people of Britain,” he added, but “it is not direct tax money that goes into the BBC.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 10, 2023

A direct tax is one which is demanded from the very persons who, it is intended or desired, should pay it.

From Principles Of Political Economy Abridged with Critical, Bibliographical, and Explanatory Notes, and a Sketch of the History of Political Economy by Mill, John Stuart