Phantom Tax
Rising🧒Middle SchoolDefinition
A nonsensical evolution of 'fanum tax' — the meme of made-up taxes expanded to include increasingly absurd tax names. Part of the brainrot meme taxonomy.
Translation for Parents
Remember fanum tax (stealing food)? Well, the internet decided everything needs a tax now. Phantom tax, demon tax, various other taxes that don't mean anything specific. It's the fanum tax expanded universe. I wish I was making this up.
Examples
“Bro hit me with the phantom tax on my chips”
“He took some of my chips (using an evolved version of the fanum tax meme)”
“That's the phantom tax you gotta pay it”
“That's the invisible toll you owe me (jokingly)”
Cringe Score
Grounds for emancipation
The tax cinematic universe has expanded beyond anyone's control. By the time you learn one, three more have been invented. Just nod along.
Category
meme specific
Last Verified
2026-02-25
Sources
tiktok, youtube