Home › Forums › Decaffeinated Coffee › Unfair tax evasion? › Reply To: Unfair tax evasion?

#2360885

from halakhipedia, these are some starting points for the discussion.

One who does not pay taxes violates a Torah commandment of �lo tigzol� (Vayikra 19:13), as one is stealing from the government. Shulchan Aruch C.M. 369:6. Rabbi Menashe Klein writes that tax evasion is equivalent to hafkaat halvaa, withholding payment for debt, which is only prohibited in case of chillul hashem (Mishneh Halachot, Chelek 12, Siman 445).

One who violates tax laws of a country with a legitimate system of taxes is obligated to pay the resulting fines. Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 369:7; Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 4:1, Hilchos Gezeilah 5:12

A Jew is permitted to work a tax agency and turn in Jews found guilty Shevet Halevi, Chelek 2, Siman 18

It is prohibited to avoid paying taxes in a democracy such as the United States. Shu”t Igrot Moshe CM 2:29, Shu”t Shevet Halevi 2:58,

taxes nowadays would not only be binding because of dina dimalchuta dina. Paying taxes is also your obligation to the partnership because taxes are used to provide services to the citizens (fire, police, military, garbage, mail etc). All the people of the city, state, country have to contribute to provide for that. Thus, one who withholds his taxes is not only taking from the government. He is taking from the other citizens, which inevitably includes other Jews. Rav Schachter

According to some poskim, patronizing a Jewish merchant who cheats on his taxes violates the biblical prohibition of lifnei iver. Rav Schachter ?