taxman

See also: tax man

English

Alternative forms

• tacksman (obsolete)

Etymology

From tax +‎ man.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: tăksʹmăn, IPA^(key): /ˈtæksmæn/
• (UK) enPR: tăksʹmăn, IPA^(key): /ˈtaksman/

Noun

taxman (plural taxmen)

1. (sometimes derogatory) A tax collector.
   • 1668 July 3rd, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 547

     Andrew Houſtoun and Adam Muſhet, being Tackſmen of the Excize, did Imploy Thomas Rue to be their Collector, and gave him a Sallary of 30. pound Sterling for a year.

2. (sometimes derogatory) A tax-collecting organ, personified.
   • 1966, The Kinks, Sunny Afternoon:

     The taxman’s taken all my dough.
     Left me in my stately home.

   • 1978, The Estates, Gifts and Trusts Journal:

     ... a duty even more dreaded: to pay taxes. The taxman is primarily interested in those strong enough to create and lucky enough to sell.

   • 2013, Tom Parker Bowles, The Year of Eating Dangerously: A Global Adventure in Search of Culinary Extremes, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN:

     The taxman is an especially hated presence. 'Let's just say that certain elements around these parts could live without their company,' observes one ...

Usage notes

• The term is gender-neutral (the term taxwoman is not in common usage).

Synonyms

• tax collector

Translations

derogatory term for tax collector

• Azerbaijani: vergiçi
• Bulgarian: бирник (bg) m (birnik)
• Danish: væsenet, skattefar
• Finnish: verokarhu (fi)
• Greek: εφοριακός (el) (eforiakós)
• Swedish: taxmannen, mas (sv) c