pay taxes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pay taxes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an obligation to give money to the government for government services, such as providing public safety or maintaining public roads. For example, "Every working person must pay taxes in order to help maintain the infrastructure of society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We pay taxes.

The New York Times

I pay taxes".

The New York Times

People must pay taxes.

The New Yorker

Few businesses pay taxes.

The New York Times

G.E. didn't pay taxes".

The New York Times

Most pay taxes.

The New York Times

We don't pay taxes.

Yale University

Did you pay taxes?

Columbia University

NOBODY wants to pay taxes.

The Economist

We're happy to pay taxes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Everyone must pay tax".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pay taxes" in contexts where you want to emphasize the regular and expected nature of tax payments, such as discussing personal finance or government revenue.

Common error

Ensure you're not inadvertently suggesting tax evasion when discussing strategies for minimizing tax liabilities. There is a clear distinction between legally minimizing taxes and illegally avoiding them. For example, consider clarifying: “While nobody wants to pay more than necessary, it's vital to pay taxes according to the law”.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pay taxes" functions as a verb phrase, where "pay" is the verb indicating the action of giving money to the government and "taxes" is the noun specifying what is being paid. Ludwig AI also confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

14%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pay taxes" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of fulfilling one's tax obligations. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently used in News & Media and Academic contexts, indicating its relevance across different registers. While the phrase is straightforward, it's important to distinguish between legally paying taxes and illegal tax avoidance. Related phrases like "tax payments" and "remit taxes" offer alternative ways to express the same concept with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tax payments

Focuses on the act of payment rather than the obligation.

tax liabilities

Emphasizes the financial obligation of owing taxes.

remit taxes

Uses a more formal verb to describe the act of paying taxes.

discharge tax obligations

Highlights the fulfillment of one's tax duties.

meet tax obligations

Similar to discharging, focuses on fulfilling requirements.

settle tax dues

Implies resolving outstanding tax amounts.

render tax payments

A formal way of saying 'make tax payments'.

provide tax revenue

Focuses on the contribution to government income.

contribute tax dollars

Emphasizes the monetary contribution to the tax system.

fulfill tax responsibilities

Highlights the overall duty regarding taxes.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "pay taxes"?

The phrase "pay taxes" refers to the act of individuals or entities fulfilling their legal obligation to contribute a portion of their income or assets to the government, which uses these funds to finance public services and infrastructure.

Why do people have to "pay taxes"?

People "must pay taxes" because it's the primary way governments fund essential services like healthcare, education, public safety, and infrastructure development. Without taxes, these services would be severely compromised.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "pay taxes"?

You can use alternatives like "tax payments", "remit taxes", or "discharge tax obligations" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "paid taxes" instead of "pay taxes"?

Yes, "paid taxes" is the past tense form of "pay taxes" and is used to describe taxes that have already been paid. The correct tense depends on whether you're referring to a past action or a general obligation. It is also related to "paying taxes".