purchase tax

IPA/ˈpɜːtʃəs tæks/
IPA/ˈpɜːrtʃəs tæks/

purchase tax — noun

1. A tax that customers must pay when they buy certain products or services, added

1.名詞B2
釋義

A tax that customers must pay when they buy certain products or services, added as a percentage of the price and included in the final cost at the checkout.

例句

Niran checked the receipt to see how much purchase tax had been added to his new laptop.

When the government raised the purchase tax on electronics, many stores offered discounts to help customers save money.

purchase tax on + product category

同義詞
  • sales tax

    More common in US English; usually a flat percentage on all retail items, while purchase tax may vary by category.

  • consumption tax

    A broader economic term covering all taxes on spending, including purchase tax, VAT, and excise duties.

  • excise duty

    Applies to specific goods such as alcohol, tobacco, or fuel rather than general purchases.

用法筆記

Often confused with sales tax, but purchase tax may be applied at different rates to different categories of goods rather than a flat percentage on all items.

常見錯誤

❌I paid the purchase tax on my dinner at the restaurant.
✅I paid the sales tax on my dinner at the restaurant.
💡purchase tax usually applies to products, not services like restaurant meals.
❌The purchase tax is included in the sticker price at the supermarket.
✅The purchase tax is added at the register, not shown on the shelf label.
💡purchase tax is often calculated and added at checkout, not pre-included on the price tag.

2. A former tax in the United Kingdom on goods, with the amount charged varying bas

2.名詞C1
釋義

A former tax in the United Kingdom on goods, with the amount charged varying based on whether the item was considered a basic necessity or a luxury.

例句

In 1950s Britain, purchase tax on cosmetics was much higher than on basic food items like bread and milk.

variety-based rates: luxury goods taxed higher

Eleni's grandmother remembered when purchase tax on a new radio was almost twenty percent of the price.

同義詞
  • VAT

    The modern replacement for purchase tax in the UK since 1973; VAT is broader and applies at multiple stages of production, not just at final sale.

用法筆記

This sense refers specifically to the UK tax system that existed before 1973. The tax rate was graduated: essential goods (food, fuel) were exempt or low-rated, while luxury goods (jewellery, cars) faced higher rates.

常見錯誤

❌I paid purchase tax on my groceries today in London.
✅I paid VAT on my groceries today in London.
💡purchase tax was abolished in the UK in 1973; modern UK consumers pay VAT instead.