What is the ruling on not paying state taxes when double usurious interest accrues on them the longer the period of non-payment?
Taxes are of two types: permissible and forbidden. The permissible type is that which the state imposes to provide essential services, on condition that the treasury is depleted and public funds are not misused. As for the forbidden type, it is that which is imposed without a corresponding service or when there are sufficient funds in the treasury; this type is Islamically prohibited. It is permissible to evade forbidden taxes, and whoever is forced to pay them is not held accountable. The increase on an unjust tax is not usury (riba), but rather a doubling of a forbidden fine. As for permissible taxes, they must be paid and should not be delayed, and any increase imposed on a delayed payment of these is considered usury (riba).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/92559
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 92559
- Imported
- Translation status
- Source text, unreviewed
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy