regressive tax

1. A tax that takes a higher percentage of low incomes than high ones. Sales taxes, especially on food, clothing, medicine, and other basic necessities are widely cited as examples of regressive taxes. (Compare progressive tax.)

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, at the national level in 1913, Democratic reformers in Congress slashed the country’s high tariffs, long a regressive tax on working-class consumers, replacing them with a progressive income tax whose top rate was then 7% on incomes over $500,000.

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It’s a regressive tax masquerading as environmental action.

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Tariffs, Pancotti said, are a regressive tax that disproportionately impacts lower earners because, in essence, a tariff is a sales tax on imported goods.

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Thus, if “successful,” Trump would be imposing the largest, most regressive tax increase in history.

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They're going to have a regressive tax structure or, at the very least, a non-progressive tax structure.

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