tax return

American  

[taks ri-turn] / ˈtæks rɪˌtɜrn /

noun

tax returns plural

1. a statement, on an officially prescribed form, of income, deductions, exemptions, etc., and taxes due.

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tax return British  

noun

1. a declaration of personal income made annually to the tax authorities and used as a basis for assessing an individual's liability for taxation

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tax returns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tax return

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

This system is a bit like how a self-employed person can file expenses on their self-assessment tax return for things like uniform or training.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

The state board’s records show the Valley Bureau Foundation fell out of compliance in 2022 for “failure to file” a tax return.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

He was wronged by the IRS leak of his tax return, but this payment deal is rotten.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

A Booz Allen employee in 2023 pleaded guilty to leaking tax return information and was sentenced to five years in prison.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Why must a typical reader struggle to follow an academic article, the fine print on a tax return, or the instructions for setting up a wireless home network?

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• tax form