Giving Taxes in a Non-Muslim Country

2-10-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am from India and willing to start a business, I want to know about the giving taxes in a non muslim country where the government also uses it to construct temples, wastes it on extravagance, corruption, idle leisure and other haraam things. Variety of Taxes are imposed such as goods and service tax(0-28% on invoice value), income tax up to 25% on income earned, import and export duties,etc., if a person pays everything then I think he may not reach the break even or go in loss. As Mukoos (Giving or collecting) is Haraam in Islam and is zulm to the people living. Can we Undervalue the invoice, For Example, both buyer and seller agree to a price of 100INR, but the Invoice is made of lesser than this value like 50INR to reduce the taxes being paid and the rest is dealt in cash. Can we do such tricks to evade or reduce taxes. Is this considered lying or treachery to the government for concealing the true value of goods? And also, Can we bribe the customs official to reduce the duties paid on goods for importing or exporting?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we thank you for your trust in us and for writing to us. May Allah reward you.

In our opinion, it is more appropriate for such a question to be asked to the scholars in your country, who are available, praise be to Allah, and they have Islamic Institutions. They are more aware of the situation in your country and can provide you with an appropriate answer.

May Allah enable you to do every good and help you in all your affairs.

Allah knows best.