Black's Law Dictionary (2nd edition)dictionaries

Taxation

The imposition of & tax; the act or process of imposing and levying a pecuniary charge or enforced contribution, ratable, or proportioned to value or some other standard, upon persons or property, by or on behalf of a government or one of its divisions or agencies, for the purpose of pro-viding revenue for the maintenance and expenses of government

Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)