Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tassa | /ˈtas.sa/ | feminine |
| imposta | /imˈpɔs.ta/ /imˈpos.ta/ |
feminine |
| accisa | /atˈt͡ʃi.za/ | feminine |
In Italian, several words can be used to translate 'tax' depending on the specific type of charge. Use it to talk about money paid to the government or various fees. You might use the verb tassare to describe the act of imposing or collecting a tax.
Which one should you use?
While tassa is the most common and general term used for a tax or a fee, such as a service fee or a tourist tax, other words are more specific. Imposta is a formal and technical term used in legal or economic contexts for direct or indirect taxes, such as income tax. Accisa is a technical term that refers specifically to an excise duty, which is a tax on specific goods like fuel, alcohol or tobacco.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb tassare is used to express the action of imposing a tax on someone or something.
How do you pronounce it?
The word tassa is pronounced /ˈtas.sa/.
Did you know?
- While tassa refers to a general tax, in modern Italian it is frequently used to describe the 'tuition fees' paid by university students.
- The word imposta has a double life in Italian, as it also refers to a 'shutter' or a architectural 'impost' block used to support an arch.
- The phrase tassa di concessione is used when someone pays the government for the right to use public space, such as for an outdoor cafe table.
Examples in context
- Dobbiamo pagare la tassa.We must pay the tax.This sentence is useful for expressing the necessity of paying a tax using tassa.Tatoeba #2686152 by Guybrush88, translation #248959 by CK
- La nuova tassa emargina i poveri.The new tax marginalizes poor people.This sentence shows how a tassa can affect certain groups of people.Tatoeba #9934290 by Guybrush88, translation #7107968 by ruotsinkuningas
- C'è una tassa pesante sul tabacco.There is a heavy tax on tobacco.This sentence illustrates the use of tassa when referring to a charge on a specific product like tobacco.Tatoeba #2827449 by Guybrush88, translation #40679 by CK
- Devo pagare le tasse sul reddito.I have to pay income taxes.
- È necessario pagare l'imposta sul valore aggiunto.It's necessary to pay value-added tax.
- La società deve versare il tributo municipale.The company must pay the municipal tax.
- Dovrò pagare le tasse sull'auto nuova.I'll have to pay taxes on the new car.
- La nuova legge sulla tassazione entrerà in vigore il prossimo anno.The new tax law will come into effect next year.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are discussing their monthly expenses.
- FrancescoQuanto costa questa tassa mensile?How much does this monthly tax cost?
- ChiaraCosta circa cinquanta euro, Francesco.It costs about fifty euros, Francesco.
- FrancescoÈ una tassa troppo alta!It is too high a tax!
- ChiaraPurtroppo è così per tutti, Chiara.Unfortunately it is like that for everyone, Chiara.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tax” translations and entries tassa, imposta, accisa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries accisa, imposta, tassa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
