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purchase tax

American

noun

British.

a sales tax on nonessential and luxury goods.

purchase tax British

noun

a tax levied on nonessential consumer goods and added to selling prices by retailers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of purchase tax

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The bigger problem for the industry was the loss of the $7,500 federal purchase tax credit in September.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

The loss of the $7,500 EV purchase tax credit in September has hurt demand.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

What’s more, Americans lost the $7,500 federal EV purchase tax credit in September.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

A reduction in subsidies and a 5% purchase tax hike on EVs are expected to slow market momentum.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The reduction in government subsidies and a 5% purchase tax hike on EVs are expected to slow market momentum, following a high base with demand pulled forward into 2024-2025.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023