gross up

USAGE SUMMARY

"gross up" is not a common phrase in written English.
You can use it in an informal context to indicate that something has been increased or multiplied by a certain amount. For example: "The landlord grossed up the rent for next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Even as the number of companies that "gross up" increases, they remain a distinct minority.

The New York Times

At first, it looked as if the Treasury might take Mr. Gross up on the offer.

The New York Times

There's still a long way to go — most companies don't "gross up," as the reimbursements are known.

The New York Times

Still, Google isn't the first company to "gross up" their employees' pay, as raises to cover taxes are known.

The New York Times

Over the last year, however, as the word has gotten out about this inequity, more companies have begun to "gross up" these workers, as the policy is known.

The New York Times

GROSS UP Turner Gill, who was fired by Kansas at the end of the regular season, had a gross-up clause in his contract that essentially said Kansas had to pay the taxes on the $200,000 he received from the university in order to buy out his contract with the University at Buffalo after he was hired by the Jayhawks in December 2009.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Tax gross ups are increases to payouts in order to compensate individuals for money lost in tax.

Harvard University

Critics of tax gross ups argue that if an executive is fortunate enough to receive a multi-million-dollar payout, it should not also be the company's responsibility to foot their tax bill.

Harvard University

The catch, he said, is this: "Once you start grossing up for the executives, that catches the shareholders' attention".

The New York Times

§ 3.44 Securitization exposures to which the SSFA and gross-up approach do not apply.

Cornell University

§ 217.44 Securitization exposures to which the SSFA and gross-up approach do not apply.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gross up" in financial contexts, ensure the calculation method is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "gross up" as a generic term for increasing a value; it specifically implies adjusting an amount to account for taxes or other deductions. Otherwise use "increase" or "augment".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "gross up" primarily functions as a verb indicating the action of increasing a net amount to its gross equivalent by factoring in taxes or other deductions. Ludwig's examples show it's used in the context of compensation and financial agreements. The Ludwig AI reports the phrase is not very common in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gross up" functions as a phrasal verb primarily used in financial and compensation discussions to denote the process of increasing a net amount to its gross value by including taxes or deductions. Ludwig's AI indicates that while grammatically correct, it's not a particularly common phrase in general written English. Its register leans toward professional contexts, and you'll most frequently encounter it in "News & Media" and "Academia", specifically in discussions related to executive compensation and financial regulations. When employing "gross up", ensure you specify the calculation method for clarity, and avoid using it as a generic substitute for "increase". Instead, reserve it for scenarios where taxes or deductions are explicitly involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase to cover taxes

This alternative specifies the reason for the increase, which is to offset tax liabilities.

compensate for taxes

This alternative focuses on the act of providing compensation specifically for taxes owed.

add a tax allowance

This alternative directly references the addition of an allowance to cover taxes.

uplift to include tax

This phrase describes the action of increasing an amount to incorporate the tax amount.

adjust upwards for tax

This emphasizes the upward adjustment to account for tax implications.

tax equalization

Tax equalization aims to maintain the same purchasing power regardless of tax obligations.

tax reimbursement

This alternative involves the reimbursement of taxes already paid.

make tax-free

This phrase modifies the base amount so it is not subjected to taxes.

add tax benefits

This refers to incorporating benefits that mitigate the impact of taxes.

provide tax relief

This option describes actions to reduce the burden of taxes.

FAQs

How is "gross up" used in executive compensation?

In executive compensation, "gross up" typically refers to a company increasing an executive's pay to cover the taxes they owe on certain benefits, ensuring they receive the full intended value.

What does it mean when a company eliminates "gross up" provisions?

When a company eliminates "gross up" provisions, it means they will no longer cover the taxes on executive perks or severance packages, shifting the tax burden back to the executive.

What are some alternatives to "gross up" in financial contexts?

In financial contexts, you can use alternatives such as "increase to cover taxes" or "compensate for taxes" to convey a similar meaning.

Why are "gross up" arrangements controversial?

"Gross up" arrangements can be controversial because shareholders might view them as an excessive perk for executives, especially when the company is underperforming or facing financial difficulties.