What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
surcharge
Example
The hotel added a surcharge for room service after midnight. [surcharge: noun]
Example
The airline charged a surcharge for overweight baggage. [surcharge: noun]
tax
Example
I need to file my tax return by April 15th. [tax: noun]
Example
The government increased the tax rate on luxury goods. [tax: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tax is a more commonly used term than surcharge in everyday language. Tax is a mandatory payment required by law, while surcharge is an additional fee added by businesses or service providers for specific reasons.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between surcharge and tax?
Tax is a more formal term than surcharge. It is a legal term and is used in official documents and contexts. Surcharge, on the other hand, is more informal and is used in commercial and business contexts.
