tax dodge

English

Etymology

Attested from 1920s, perhaps as a back-formation from tax dodger, which is attested from the late 19th century. (But also compare dodge (“trick, stratagem”).)

Noun

tax dodge (plural tax dodges)

1. (somewhat derogatory, informal) A scheme (legal or illegal) to avoid paying tax, or to pay less tax.
   • 1927, United States Code Annotated‎^[1]:

     […] indication that taxpayer accepted public employment as a tax dodge, and where taxpayer earned approximately 98% of his income from his Oregon based business activities, taxpayer was a "public employee" and was therefore entitled to deduct […]

   • 1941, “PARK 'GIFT' TO CITY CALLED TAX DODGE”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     [headline] PARK 'GIFT' TO CITY CALLED TAX DODGE

Further reading

• tax dodge, tax dodger at Google Ngram Viewer