street tax
Forced neighborhood payment
Street tax is an extortion payment demanded by criminals—typically gangs—from individuals or businesses operating in their territory.
The "tax" buys protection from violence or harassment, often from the same people collecting it: Every dealer on the block pays street tax to the crew that runs it.
The term frames robbery as governance, implying territorial control.
- extortionObtaining through threats
- protectionGuarding against harm
- protection moneyPayment extracted through threats
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
shake down · pay up · tribute · hustle · gang · turf · territory · no-go zone · kickback · bribe · mob · enforcer · corner · dealer · drug trade · muscle · payoff · intimidation
street taxincome tax
Government charge on earnings
sales tax · property tax · excise tax · municipal tax · VAT
street taxcharitable contribution
Gift to a cause
free gift · charitable donation · tip · gift · gratuity
street, tax, streets, taxation, taxed, taxing, taxable, taxes, taxpayer