payment withholding

[/ˈpeɪmənt wɪðˈhoʊldɪŋ/]
nounpl: payment withholdings
retenção de pagamento
1. The act of refusing to pay money owed or due, typically used as leverage in a dispute or to enforce compliance with obligations
The client initiated payment withholding until the contractor completed all agreed-upon work.
O cliente iniciou uma retenção de pagamento até que o contratante completasse todo o trabalho acordado.
2. The deduction or retention of a portion of wages, salary, or payment by an employer, government, or other entity for taxes, benefits, or other purposes
Federal tax payment withholding is automatically deducted from employee paychecks.
A retenção de pagamento de imposto federal é automaticamente deduzida do salário dos funcionários.
3. A legal or contractual right to hold back payment until certain conditions are met or obligations are fulfilled
The project manager exercised payment withholding as a penalty for missing the deadline.
O gerente do projeto exerceu a retenção de pagamento como penalidade por perder o prazo.
Payment withholding is a common practice in both American and Brazilian business disputes, particularly in construction, freelance work, and vendor relationships. In Brazil, it's often used as a negotiation tool and is subject to specific labor law regulations. In the USA, tax withholding from paychecks is a standard and mandatory practice by employers. The concept carries different legal implications depending on whether it's contractual, discretionary, or statutory withholding.
NYC Slang
holding the check
Synonyms / Sinônimos
payment retentionwithholding of paymentpayment holdwage withholdingtax withholdingdeduction
Antonyms / Antônimos
payment releasefull paymentpayment processingdisbursementremittance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
retenção de pagamento
Standard term used in commercial and legal contexts across Brazil
São Paulo
suspensão de pagamento
Alternative term sometimes used in business communications
Rio de Janeiro
retenção de pagamento
Standard usage in financial and legal sectors
Portugal
retenção de pagamento
Same term used, though Portuguese law may have different specific provisions

Related Words

escrowholdbacktax withholdingliendispute resolutioncontract enforcementdeductiongarnishment

Related Idioms & Phrases

hold someone's feet to the fire
put a hold on payment
freeze payment
leverage payment
conditional payment
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