A taxpayer is a person or business that pays taxes to the government. When your parents work and earn money, they're taxpayers because part of their income goes to federal, state, and local governments. When someone buys something at a store, the sales tax they pay makes them a taxpayer too.

Taxes fund the things communities share: public schools, libraries, roads, police and fire departments, parks, and programs that help people in need. Without taxpayers contributing their share, governments couldn't provide these services. Property owners are taxpayers when they pay taxes on their homes or land. Business owners are taxpayers when they pay taxes on their profits.

The word often appears in discussions about how government money gets spent. You might hear someone say “taxpayer dollars” or “taxpayer money” to emphasize that the government's money comes from regular people and businesses who contribute part of what they earn. When a mayor proposes building a new community center, people might debate whether it's a good use of taxpayer funds.

Being a taxpayer comes with certain responsibilities and sometimes the right to have a say in how government operates. In many places, voting is one way people help decide who makes decisions about collecting and spending tax money.