Origin and history of tax

c. 1300, taxen, "impose a tax on; demand, require, impose (a penalty)," from Old French taxer "impose a tax" (13c.) and directly from Latin taxare "evaluate, estimate, assess, handle," also "censure, charge," probably a frequentative form of tangere "to touch" (from PIE root *tag- "to touch, handle").

The meaning "subject (someone) to taxation" is from early 14c. The sense of "to burden, put a strain on" is recorded from early 14c.; the figurative use in this sense is by 1670s. The meaning "censure, reprove" is from 1560s. Its use in Luke ii in reference to the census translates Greek apographein "to enter on a list, enroll" is due to Tyndale. Related: Taxed; taxing.

early 14c., "obligatory contribution levied by a sovereign or government," from Anglo-French tax, Old French taxe, and directly from Medieval Latin taxa, from Latin taxare (see tax (v.)). Related: Taxes.

Tax-gatherer is attested from 1550s. Tax-dodger "one who avoids payment of a tax or taxes" is by 1876. Tax-deduction is from 1942; tax-shelter is attested from 1961; tax-break by 1968; tax-bracket by 1975.