Alms Tax: Mistakenly Giving Fitrah to Someone Who is Not Poor

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani

Ruling 2031

If a person gives fiṭrah to someone thinking that he is poor but later realises that he was not poor, in the event that the item he gave him has not perished, he must take it back and give it to someone who is entitled to receive it; and if he is unable to take it back, he must replace the fiṭrah from his own property. If the item has perished, in the event that the beneficiary knew the item was given as fiṭrah, the beneficiary must replace it; however, if the beneficiary did not know, then replacing it is not obligatory for him and the benefactor must replace it.

-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Alms Tax (Zakat)