Extortion vs. Tax — What's the Difference?

Extortion is the practice of obtaining benefit through coercion. In most jurisdictions it is likely to constitute a criminal offense; the bulk of this article deals with such cases.

A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures. A failure to pay, along with evasion of or resistance to taxation, is punishable by law.

The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats

A compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions

Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.

A strain or heavy demand

The act or an instance of extorting something, as by psychological pressure.

Impose a tax on (someone or something)

An excessive or exorbitant charge.

Make heavy demands on (someone's powers or resources)

The practice of extorting money or other property by the use of force or threats.

Confront (someone) with a fault or wrongdoing

The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting anything from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge.

Examine and assess (the costs of a case)

The offense committed by an officer who corruptly claims and takes, as his fee, money, or other thing of value, that is not due, or more than is due, or before it is due.

A contribution for the support of a government required of persons, groups, or businesses within the domain of that government.

That which is extorted or exacted by force.

A fee or dues levied on the members of an organization to meet its expenses.

An exorbitant charge

A burdensome or excessive demand; a strain.

Unjust exaction (as by the misuse of authority);

To place a tax on (income, property, or goods).

The felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence)

To exact a tax from

(Law) To assess (court costs, for example).

To make difficult or excessive demands upon

To accuse; confront

To hold accountable

Money paid to the government other than for transaction-specific goods and services.

A burdensome demand.

A task exacted from one who is under control; a contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed upon a subject.

(obsolete) charge; censure

(transitive) To impose and collect a tax from (a person or company).

(transitive) To impose and collect a tax on (something).

(transitive) To make excessive demands on.

(transitive) To accuse.

(transitive) To examine accounts in order to allow or disallow items.

A charge, especially a pecuniary burden which is imposed by authority.

A charge or burden laid upon persons or property for the support of a government.

A task exacted from one who is under control; a contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed upon a subject.

Especially, the sum laid upon specific things, as upon polls, lands, houses, income, etc.; as, a land tax; a window tax; a tax on carriages, and the like.

A disagreeable or burdensome duty or charge; as, a heavy tax on time or health.

A sum imposed or levied upon the members of a society to defray its expenses.

Charge; censure.

A lesson to be learned; a task.

To subject to the payment of a tax or taxes; to impose a tax upon; to lay a burden upon; especially, to exact money from for the support of government.

To assess, fix, or determine judicially, the amount of; as, to tax the cost of an action in court.

To charge; to accuse; also, to censure; - often followed by with, rarely by of before an indirect object; as, to tax a man with pride.

Charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government

Levy a tax on;

Set or determine the amount of (a payment such as a fine)

Use to the limit;

Make a charge against or accuse;