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Working in an accounting firm

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Muftionline.co.za

Q: A person works in an accounting firm in USA where his main job is to do book keeping and monthly sales tax returns. He also does personal income tax and business income tax yearly. A situation arises where his boss ask him to fill out a client’s previous three years business income tax based off estimation. The revenue will be reported accurately, however expenses will all be estimated to show a loss for the past three years. Is this permissible to do or no? Secondly, is it permissible to intentionally exaggerate expenses to reduce the amount of tax that will be paid to the government? Lastly, will it be permissible to estimate certain income and expense figures that are not available? Pertaining to the last question, even the best accounting system does require some level of estimation. First question is regarding the permissibility of the action. Second is that if this is 20% of his job, is his income halaal?  Some level of detail will be greatly appreciated. JazakAllah for your answer.

Bismillaah

A:

1. If the client feels that this is according to his understanding and this is the right thing to do then do it.

2. As above.

3. If it is based on his figures you get from him then it is permissible.

4. His income insha-Allah will not be haraam.

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.

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