Shaykh: Regarding concealing one's actual income from the tax authority, is this permissible in Shari'ah or not?

The questioner : It is permissible and it is not permissible. If concealing it leads to harm or an attack on Islam and Muslims, then it is not permissible. This is from one aspect. From another aspect, if this door is opened, the interests of the Ummah will be disrupted, because a portion of these taxes is necessary. Although the rulers today have committed a grave error by turning away from applying the Islamic system in collecting wealth, we should not add another error to that error. We, as individuals, should not be expansive in seeking to escape these taxes and injustices, because if this door is opened, it will lead to chaos and confusion, meaning much harm in the land. One should proceed in this particular matter with extreme caution. This is what I believe.

The Shaykh : It is permissible and it is not permissible. If concealing it leads to touching or attacking Islam and the Muslims, then it is not permissible. This is from one aspect, and from another aspect, if this door is opened, the interests of the community will be compromised, because a portion of these taxes is necessary, even though the rulers today have committed a grave error by turning away from applying the Islamic system in collecting wealth. However, we should not add another error to the error. We, as individuals, should not be expansive in seeking to escape these taxes and injustices, because if this door is opened, it will lead to chaos and confusion, meaning much harm in the land. One should proceed in this particular matter with extreme caution. This is what I believe.