Definition

An extra tax that is added on top of the regular tax, usually applied to income that exceeds a certain amount.

Example

The government introduced a surtax on high earners to increase revenue for public services.

Conversation

I heard there's going to be a new surtax for high earners next year.

Really? That sounds like it could be a big deal for a lot of people.

Yeah, it's supposed to help fund public services, but it feels unfair to some.

I get that, but sometimes extra funds are necessary for improvements.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

An additional tax imposed on top of an existing tax, usually applied to higher income levels or specific goods.

Example

The government decided to levy a surtax on high earners to fund public services.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you hear they're planning to surtax higher incomes this year?

Yeah, I read about that — it seems pretty controversial.

I wonder how much it will actually affect people's budgets.

Root Explanation

**Surtax** → It is formed from "sur-" (from Old French *surd*, meaning over or above) and "tax" (from Latin *taxare*, meaning to assess or to charge). The word "surtax" refers to an additional tax that is levied over and above the standard tax rate.

Memory Tip

Think of 'over' ('sur-') and 'charge' ('tax') to remember that a surtax is an extra charge on top of the usual tax.

Visually Confused Words