Refusing to give, grant, or share something that someone wants or needs, like money, information, or permission.
From Old English 'with-' (against) and 'hold' (to keep). The compound evolved to mean 'holding back' or 'refusing to give something.'
Tax withholding is brilliant for governments because employers automatically remove tax money from paychecks, so most people never see it—compared to countries where citizens pay taxes in lump sums, this makes the tax burden psychologically invisible, which helps governments collect more revenue with less public anger.
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