How to Say "levy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “levy” is “impuesto” — use 'impuesto' for general taxes or fees, especially in formal contexts like income tax or sales tax..
impuesto
/im-pweh-stoh//imˈpwesto/
Examples
Tengo que pagar el impuesto de la renta mañana.
I have to pay my income tax tomorrow.
El gobierno anunció un nuevo impuesto sobre el plástico.
The government announced a new tax on plastic.
Muchos ciudadanos se quejan de que los impuestos son demasiado altos.
Many citizens complain that taxes are too high.
Always Masculine
When you mean 'tax', the word is always masculine (el impuesto), even if the tax is on something that sounds feminine.
Talking about taxes in general
In Spanish, we usually use the plural 'los impuestos' when talking about the general system or the concept of paying taxes.
Confusing with 'Tasa'
Mistake: “Using 'impuesto' for a small service fee.”
Correction: Use 'tasa' for a specific fee (like for a passport) and 'impuesto' for general government funding (like sales tax).
contribución
Examples
Tengo que pagar la contribución de la casa este mes.
I have to pay the property tax on the house this month.
tributo
/tree-BOO-toh//tɾiˈβuto/
Examples
El estado anunció un nuevo tributo sobre la gasolina.
The state announced a new tax on gasoline.
En la Edad Media, los pueblos pagaban tributos al rey.
In the Middle Ages, towns paid tributes to the king.
Todos debemos cumplir con nuestros tributos municipales.
We must all comply with our municipal taxes.
Tributo vs. Impuesto
'Tributo' is a broad category that includes all kinds of mandatory payments (taxes, fees, etc.), while 'impuesto' specifically means a tax where you don't get a direct service in return.
Too formal for daily talk
Mistake: “Tengo que pagar mis tributos mañana.”
Correction: Tengo que pagar mis impuestos mañana.
General vs. Specific Taxes
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