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Fatwa CenterUsing Zakat receipts for tax returns
Question
Can we use the receipt of Zakaat for tax returns (Tax return is 'Document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability; "his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return"). If yes, as it is the money given in charity we get back some amount can we use this amount for our self or do we have to give it back in charity to the same person or can we give it some other needy?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
The Zakat which you paid to whoever deserved it is sufficient and acceptable and you are not obliged to pay it again. As regards using the receipt in order to avoid the same amount of imposed taxes then it is permissible whether these taxes are permissible or illegal. If these taxes are illegal then it is permissible for you to avoid them even by deceiving and tricking, and avoiding paying taxes without deceiving but by using means which are permitted by law as this is even more appropriate and permissible. If the imposed taxes are legal, then the law in your country allows presenting the receipts in order to be exempted from the same amount of taxes. So the money which you receive this way is your property and you are permitted to spend it as you wish as all other wealth which you possess.
The permitted taxes are the ones the county imposes on the rich and wealthy people when the resources of the country are weak to an extent that the country is unable to provide enough public services, like drilling wells, tarmacking roads, building hospitals and the like. In such a case the government is permitted to impose some taxes on every person, each according to his ability, in order to build and provide those services, provided that there is no neglect in the supervision and spending of the public money.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 84560, 89947 and 90173.
Allaah Knows best.
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