Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| impuesto | /imˈpwesto/ | masculine |
| tasa | /ˈtasa/ | feminine |
| gabela | /ɡaˈbela/ | feminine |
| tax | /taɡs/ (from spelling rules) | US, masculine |
| mita | /mita/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| alfarda | /alˈfaɾda/ | feminine |
| conducho | /konˈdut͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| alcabala | /alkaˈbala/ | feminine |
The term for money paid to the government is most commonly expressed as impuesto. Common phrases include impuesto sobre la renta (income tax), impuesto sobre las ventas (sales tax) and impuesto predial (property tax). To say you are paying taxes, you can use the phrase pagar impuestos and a tax return is called a declaración de impuestos. If you are referring to a tax exemption, use exención de impuestos.
Which one should you use?
impuesto is the standard, most common word for a general tax. In technical contexts, tasa is often used to refer to a fee, a rate or a specific charge for a service rather than a general tax. Other specialized or historical terms include gabela, mita, alfarda, conducho and alcabala.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the word gravamen may be used to refer to a tax.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of impuesto is impuestos. impuesto is a masculine noun, while tasa, gabela, mita, alfarda and alcabala are feminine. conducho is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/imˈpwesto/
Did you know?
- The historical term mita refers to a mandatory public service system in the Inca Empire and later under Spanish colonial rule in Peru, acting as a labor tax instead of a monetary one.
- The word impuesto comes from the verb imponer, meaning 'to impose'. This reflects the historical view of taxes as something forced upon a population rather than a mutual agreement.
- The word gabela refers specifically to a historical salt tax, derived from the French 'gabelle' which was a highly hated tax in pre-revolutionary France.
Examples in context
- El precio incluye impuestos.The price includes tax.This sentence is useful for noting whether tax is included in a price.Tatoeba #9432197 by ignacio, translation #45249 by CK
- Este monto incluye impuestos.This amount includes tax.This sentence is useful for noting whether tax is included in an amount.Tatoeba #1193355 by marcelostockle, translation #59922 by CK
- ¿Ese precio incluye impuestos?Does that price include tax?This sentence is useful for asking if tax is included in a price.Tatoeba #1658872 by marcelostockle, translation #42844 by CK
- ¿Cuál es la tasa de impuestos en este país?What is the tax rate in this country?
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are discussing a new purchase.
- MaríaEste teléfono es muy caro.This phone is very expensive.
- JavierSí, el impuesto es muy alto aquí.Yes, the tax is very high here.
- María¿El impuesto está incluido en el precio?Is the tax included in the price?
- JavierNo, tienes que pagarlo aparte.No, you have to pay it separately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tax” translations and entries impuesto, tasa, gabela, alfarda, conducho, alcabala, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries impuesto, tasa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
