Question:
In https://dinonline.org/2017/12/14/maaser-and-receiving-35-back-from-taxes-paid-to-government/ and others, you seem to be saying that income tax is an expense that can be deducted from income before calculating maaser.
Taxes pay for infrastructure, security, and other public projects that we benefit from. If the compulsory nature of taxes causes it to be treated as an expense, would we not then have to estimate the value of public services that we benefit from, and pay maaser from them?
Answer:
Hello,
Interesting question. We don’t calculate the amount we will pay in taxes because the taxes deducted are treated as a business expense. It is a necessary expense to earn the salary. The public benefits we receive, funded by taxes, aren't earned through tax payments. People who don’t pay taxes still receive the same benefits, so these benefits aren’t considered a monetary gain resulting from one’s earnings.
Best wishes
