Ruling on paying zakah before the completion of the lunar year?

The questioner : He says: I paid the zakah on my wealth last year in the month of Dhul-Qa'dah, and I want to pay it this year in Ramadan. Is it permissible for me to do so?

The Shaykh : To proceed:

The questioner : In the month of Dhul-Qa'dah, and I want to pay it this year in the month of Ramadan. Is this advance permissible for me?

The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible. It is permissible for a person to pay his zakah early, but it is not permissible to delay it, except if there is a dire necessity for the delay, such as a person, for example, upon whom zakah has become obligatory on his wealth, but he does not have the funds. In this case, there is no harm in delaying it, provided that he specifies that the zakah became obligatory on him in such-and-such a month, and that he delayed it due to a lack of liquidity on his part. There is no harm in that. However, without an excuse, it is not permissible to delay the zakah past its time. As for paying it early, there is no harm in that.