Paying Tax To Non-Muslim Authorities

A questioner states that she owns a house in a non-Muslim country and wishes to rent it out in order to live with her family and migrate to a Muslim country, noting that in the non-Muslim country, taxes are applied. What is the ruling on this? Sheikh Sulaymān Ar-Ruhayli waffaqahullāh: There is no issue with paying taxes when they are demanded, whether they are imposed justly or unjustly. If there is a right owed to the person, they will receive it on the Day of Judgment. This does not fall under committing a wrongdoing, even if the taxes are unjust, because paying them does not make the person responsible for the wrongdoing; rather, the accountability lies with those who impose them unjustly. Taxes, my brothers, are neither absolutely forbidden nor absolutely permissible. If the nation or the country needs to impose some taxes for the benefit of society, this is allowed, provided that compassion is shown to the people. Likewise, if the state provides services that people benefit from, there is no harm in collecting a modest amount to maintain those services. However, taking people's wealth without justification is oppression and is not permissible.