Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

How right is it in Islam to do business and cheat on govt taxes ie. Income Tax , Sales Tax , Excise duty Customes Duty etc .

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can one cheat on taxes?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah and His Messenger(saws) have made obligatory on the believers to pay the zakat, and encouraged them to spend in sadaqa or charity in the Cause of Allah Subhanah.

The taxes in modern times like Income Tax, Sales Tax, Excise Duties, etc. are all charges commanded by the modern governments and have no basis in Shariah. If one pays these taxes or does not pay them, there will be no reward or punishment in the Court of Allah Subhanah in the Hereafter.

If one fears the punishments of the governments, then he should pay these taxes; and if he can find a legal way to abstain or reduce his taxes, there is no harm in doing so. But it would not behove the character of a believer to lie on his tax returns, and save himself from taxation.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan