Tax-free
adj.hopeful, capableprofessional
What it means
Legally not subject to a specified tax.
Reach for it when describing income, goods, savings, or status covered by an actual tax exemption
Residents may place the grant in a tax-free savings account under the new program.
Choose between these
5- everyday
net
when an amount remaining after deductions is intended
not when Net income may already have had tax removed; it is not inherently tax-free.
- everyday
untaxed
when no tax was charged and legality is already clear
not when Untaxed can imply that a liability was overlooked or evaded.
- professional
duty-free
when customs duties on goods are specifically absent
not when Duty-free applies to customs charges, not income or sales tax generally.
- professional
tax-exempt
when formal legal status is the point
not when Tax-exempt often describes an organization or category, while tax-free can describe a transaction or return.
- formal
free of tax
when explanatory prose is clearer than a compound adjective
not when The phrase is cumbersome before a noun and may obscure which tax is meant.
Said against
3- taxable
- taxed
- dutiable
It naturally appears in
3- tax-free income
The rules cap how much tax-free income the account can generate.
- tax-free allowance
Each volunteer received a lawful tax-free allowance for travel.
- tax-free savings
Tax-free savings helped the family plan for university costs.
Usage notes
Tax treatment depends on jurisdiction, taxpayer status, and the specific transaction.