a token tax

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a token tax" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a nominal or symbolic tax that is often implemented for regulatory or compliance purposes rather than for generating significant revenue. Example: "The government introduced a token tax on plastic bags to encourage consumers to reduce their usage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

All that was added was a token tax power designed to be unusable which has been unused.

Independent

Such a scheme is in fact a desperate plea by government to dishonest businessmen, corrupt politicians and cunning bureaucrats: a plea to bring their stash home and pay a token tax on it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Administration officials would make minor trims to Medicare, but only if Republicans accept at least token tax increases.That still leaves plenty to quarrel over.

The Economist

Sadly, the other parties are not in the real world either; they know, but will not say, that significant, rather than token, tax increases will be required to fund what they have promised and what the public wants.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the same token, taxes on things that cannot be moved easily, such as property, are less distortive than taxes on mobile economic agents, particularly firms.

The Economist

For eBay, the following considerations hold when hunting the site for trade tokens: Most United States trade tokens are listed in Coins and Paper Money/Exonumia/US Trade but there are many different categories of tokens listed under Exonumia including: Civil War tokens, Hard Times tokens, Transit tokens, Good Luck tokens, So-Called Dollars, Love tokens, Tax tokens, etc.

WikiHow

Congress did vote a token increase in earned-income tax credit allowances, but not nearly enough to solve the problem.

The New York Times

The proposed Buffett tax takes a token swipe at the very rich, while much of the rest of the program cuts outlays that help the working and middle class -- and blurs distinctions with Republicans.

Huffington Post

Some of these politically explosive issues emerged when Eric Cantor, the Republican House Majority Leader, suggested on April 19 that Congress should consider making every adult pay at least a token amount in federal income taxes: We also know that over 45 percent of the people in this country don't pay income taxes at all, and we have to question whether that's fair.

The New York Times

'Postage stamps', basically as a token for payment of postal taxes, are now being recognized as an information source and historical document in recording national achievements that visually convey four core elements: denomination, country name, graphical design, and the textual element.

The International Information & Library Review

In this context, proposals to reprimand firms that market abusive tax avoidance schemes are a token gesture.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a token tax" when you want to emphasize that a tax is primarily symbolic or regulatory rather than a significant source of revenue. It is useful in describing policies designed to encourage certain behaviors without imposing a heavy financial burden.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a token tax" is insignificant in all contexts. While the individual amount may be small, the cumulative effect or the message it sends can be quite substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a token tax" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as a descriptor for a type of tax. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, suggesting its adherence to standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a token tax" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a tax that is symbolic or regulatory, rather than a significant source of revenue. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it is found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When writing, consider using it to emphasize the symbolic nature of a tax, but be mindful of the potential for misinterpreting its impact. Alternative phrases such as "a symbolic tax" or "a nominal tax" can also be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a symbolic tax

Emphasizes the symbolic nature of the tax rather than its monetary value.

a nominal tax

Highlights that the tax is small in amount or significance.

a negligible tax

Focuses on the insignificant impact of the tax.

a minimal tax

Similar to nominal, emphasizing the small amount.

a reduced tax

Indicates that the tax rate is lower than usual.

a superficial tax

Highlights the lack of depth or real impact of the tax.

a light tax

Suggests a less burdensome tax.

a slight tax

Similar to negligible, indicating a small effect.

a paper tax

Emphasizes that the tax exists more on paper than in reality.

a compliance tax

Highlights that the tax is primarily for regulatory compliance.

FAQs

What does "a token tax" mean?

The phrase "a token tax" refers to a tax that is nominal or symbolic, often implemented for regulatory or compliance purposes rather than to generate significant revenue.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a token tax"?

Use "a token tax" when you want to emphasize that a tax is primarily symbolic or regulatory rather than a significant source of revenue.

What can I say instead of "a token tax"?

You can use alternatives like "a symbolic tax", "a nominal tax", or "a negligible tax" depending on the context.

Is "a token tax" commonly used in academic or formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a token tax" might be more common in news or media contexts. In academic or formal writing, consider using more precise terms like "a nominal tax" or "a compliance tax".