hidden tax
Disguised government charge
A hidden tax is a cost passed on to consumers without appearing as a direct tax.
Tariffs raise prices at the store; inflation erodes purchasing power; regulatory compliance costs get built into what you pay.
The term is often rhetorical, used to criticize policies whose true costs aren't immediately visible: Inflation is a hidden tax on savings.
Sustained price level increase
- tariffTax on traded goods
- licensing feePayment for authorized use
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- surchargeExtra fee added
fee · levy · excise · VAT · customs · markup · price floor · subsidy
Intentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- disguisedConcealed true identity
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
undetected · obscure · camouflaged · subtle · under-the-table · backdoor · invisible · buried
Difficulty meeting monetary obligations
- drainChannel for wastewater
- tollFee for passage
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- loadCarried weight or burden
pressure · encumbrance · squeeze · pinch · erosion · nickeled and dimed · cumulative · regressive
Not anticipated beforehand
- eye-openerStartling piece of information
- discoveryAct of finding something
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
inflation
Sustained price level increase
- tariffTax on traded goods
- licensing feePayment for authorized use
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
surcharge · fee · levy · excise · VAT · customs · markup · price floor · subsidy · import duty
covert
Intentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- disguisedConcealed true identity
- veiledConcealed or obscured
unnoticed · undetected · obscure · camouflaged · subtle · under-the-table · backdoor · invisible · buried · fine print
financial strain
Difficulty meeting monetary obligations
load · pressure · encumbrance · squeeze · pinch · erosion · nickeled and dimed · cumulative · regressive · disproportionate
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- eye-openerStartling piece of information
- discoveryAct of finding something
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
hidden taxdirect tax
Charge on income directly
income tax · property tax · payroll tax · sales tax · estate tax
hidden, hide, hid, hides, hiding, hider, hiddenness, tax, taxes