taxpayer
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taxpayer
A person or company that is legally required to pay taxes to the state.
Die Sanierung des Stadttheaters wird vollständig vom Steuerzahler finanziert.
The renovation of the city theater is being financed entirely by the taxpayer.
The word is made up of 'die Steuer' (tax) and 'der Zahler' (payer). A payer is a person who pays something (from the verb 'zahlen' = to pay). So 'der Steuerzahler' (taxpayer) is literally a person who pays taxes.
Jede arbeitende Person in Deutschland ist auch ein Steuerzahler.
Every working person in Germany is also a taxpayer.
'Der Steuerzahler' (the taxpayer) is often used in the singular to refer to all tax-paying citizens as a whole. It then has a collective meaning, similar to 'die Bevölkerung' (the population).
Die neue Brücke kostet den Steuerzahler viele Millionen Euro.
The new bridge will cost the taxpayer many millions of euros.
This word is very frequently used in political and economic debates. It often carries the undertone that citizens are bearing the costs of government projects.
Die Opposition fragt, was die Reform dem Steuerzahler bringt.
The opposition is asking what the reform will bring the taxpayer.
key performer
'der Steuerzahler' and 'der Leistungsträger' can both appear in political discussions about work, income, and contributions to society. 'Steuerzahler' is more neutral and more precise: it refers to people or companies that have to pay taxes. 'Leistungsträger' is more evaluative. It refers to people who are said to make a particularly large contribution to the community through their work, income, and tax payments. Learners may confuse the words because paying taxes can play a role in both. But not every taxpayer is automatically described as a 'Leistungsträger' (high contributor).
Die neue Straße wird am Ende von den Steuerzahlern bezahlt.
In the end, the new road will be paid for by taxpayers.
Im Gespräch nannte der Politiker Ärzte und Unternehmer wichtige Leistungsträger der Gesellschaft.
In the conversation, the politician called doctors and entrepreneurs important high contributors to society.