Fatwa #259606 July 2013United Kingdom
Zakaat on income tax
Question
My question is regarding zakaat on income tax. I pay the tax on my previous financial year before january of next year. e.g. income tax on the income between april 2012 and march 2013 will be paid before january 2014. My income tax consists of two parts. Tax on income of previous year and some advance tax for coming year (april 2013 and march 2014). I pay my zakaat in ramadhan every year.
My question is that whether zakaat is to be paid on this income tax if the ramadhan will be between march 2013 and january 2014. In short will this tax to be paid on later date will be considered my liability or not? If yes then does this include both the portions of tax .i.e. previous and advance.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If your Islamic financial year is Ramadhan, then the taxes due only till Ramadhan will be regarded as a liability and exempt from Zakaat. The taxes due after Ramadhaan will not be considered as a liability.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Checked and approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.