While nobody enjoys paying taxes, the cultural framing around 交税 in China can differ from the West. In many Western cultures, especially the US, paying taxes is often framed as a transaction with the government, sometimes viewed adversarially and as a topic of fierce political debate (“taxation is theft,” “no taxation without representation”). In China, paying taxes is more commonly presented and understood as a citizen's fundamental duty and a contribution to national development and social stability. The official slogan, 依法纳税是每个公民的光荣义务 (Yīfǎ nàshuì shì měi gè gōngmín de guāngróng yìwù), means “Paying taxes according to the law is the glorious duty of every citizen.” This reflects a more collectivist perspective where individual obligations to the state and society are emphasized. So, while an American might complain about “giving the government my hard-earned money,” a Chinese person might frame it more neutrally as fulfilling a required responsibility for the country's progress. The act of 交税 is seen less as a political statement and more as a straightforward civic requirement.
交税 (jiāo shuì) is a neutral term used in both formal and informal contexts. It's the standard way to discuss the act of paying any kind of tax.