In a market affected by taxes, what is the primary reason for deadweight loss to occur?

Deadweight loss occurs in a market affected by taxes because the tax changes the way buyers and sellers interact. When a tax is imposed, it raises the price buyers pay and lowers the price sellers receive, leading to fewer transactions. This means that some trades that would have happened without the tax no longer occur, which reduces overall economic efficiency. For example, if a tax is placed on a product, some consumers might decide not to buy it because it's too expensive, which hurts both the seller and the buyer. As a result, the total benefit to society is less than it could be without the tax, creating a loss that is not captured by the government or anyone else.