single tax

American  

noun

Economics.

1. a tax, as on land, that constitutes the sole source of public revenue.

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single tax British  

noun

1. a taxation system in which a tax on one commodity, usually land, is the only source of revenue

2. such a tax

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Other Word Forms

• single-tax
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of single tax

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

single tax

Two spouses, each needing four years of care, can spend $1.5 million before anyone has paid a single tax.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026

Moreover, George’s single tax targeted valuable urban land far more than most land reforms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Currently, single tax filers can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains from the sale of their primary residence or $500,000 if filing jointly.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025

That’s the benefit Boeing derived from that single tax credit in 2018, the last year of normal production before the steep jet delivery drop that followed the 737 MAX crashes.

From Seattle Times ● May 30, 2023

Public land ownership: Secured by Confiscation, by revolutionary action.Purchase, by land bond issues.Taxation, by the single tax.

From A Stake in the Land by Speek, Peter A. (Peter Alexander)