Is it right to use other people's official receipts to compute one's tax deductibles?

Al Sabado


No, it's not and it will never be right.

If you're a believer, will you do the same? Sadly, even some Christians practice it, without being bothered by their conscience.

Using other people's official receipts to compute another income earner's tax deductibles is a brazen way to cheat on taxes. People take this very lightly, but such dishonesty is a form of stealing from one's inland revenue.

The COA commissioner once said that it's not easy to teach people integrity. That's true. But at least, let's listen to this: Stop cheating, be honest, and be brave to do what's right in the eyes of God and man.

If you've decided to use other people's official receipts to compute your tax deductibles, take heed. The inland revenue bureau may not catch you, but God sees what you do. Fear Him (Luke 12:5).

Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)

A call to fellow believers: Let’s pay our taxes . . . faithfully

Al Sabado

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. (Luke 2:1-3)

Reading through Luke 2:1-3 tells us that paying taxes is nothing new. History tells us also that issues concerning paying taxes abound even to this day . . .

Few years ago, an accountant called me up and sought counsel regarding some delinquent client taxpayers who wanted their tax documents tampered (so they pay small taxes or none at all). I had no other words on the matter but for the accountant to do the right thing. Unfortunately, some delinquent client taxpayers in our discussion involved so-called Christians who read and supposedly practice God’s Word.

This morning, I again had conversation on taxation matters after the Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue has released what I call powerful, yet appropriate ads on paying taxes. (The BIR ads are not insulting, as some say, but truthful.) The person I was talking with tried to justify the malpractice of some taxpayers by saying they can’t be blamed because the government isn’t honest about handling tax money anyway. That may be true but we can’t right a wrong by doing another wrong.

The conversation saddened me because the person I was talking with is supposed to be a fellow believer who is vocal about defrauding taxes if there was a way to do it for the regularly employed. (I don’t find it surprising anymore as such corrupt manner may already be the strong influence of attending an emergent church fearlessly compromising God’s Word. Any connection? No doubt about it.)

But God’s Word tells us to be faithful:

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:10-12)

Source: Know your taxes