Taxes differ from tariffs because taxes are levied by the government on income, property, sales, and other financial transactions, primarily to raise revenue for public services. In contrast, tariffs are specific types of taxes imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries by making foreign products more expensive.
While both taxes and tariffs ultimately serve to generate government revenue, their purposes and applications vary significantly. Taxes fund government operations, such as education, infrastructure, and public safety, while tariffs primarily aim to regulate trade and influence economic policy. Essentially, taxes are broader in scope and apply to individuals and businesses irrespective of international trade, while tariffs are specifically related to goods crossing national borders.