Khums: Religious Tithes vs. Government Taxes Under Islamic Rule

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Khums: Religious Tithes vs. Government Taxes Under Islamic Rule

English:

Question #1026:

In 1962, I became a follower of Imam Khomeini (q.) in taqlīd and used to forward my khums money to His Holiness. In 1967, while asking about religious tithes and general taxes, he replied that religious tithes are khums and zakāt in which general taxes are not included. Now that we are living in the period of Islamic Government, please explain to me my duty regarding religious tithes and general taxes.

Answer #1026:

Although the payment of taxes levered by Islamic Government according to the rules and regulations is obligatory for persons subject to these regulations, and fall within one’s annual expenditures of the year of payment, these taxes cannot be considered as two shares of khums. In fact paying khums on the income in excess of one’s yearly earnings is an independent obligation.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Khums