(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Muslims are aware of their obligation to pay zakat (tithe) but are unable to settle their dues as the zakat payment counters only operate during office hours on weekdays.
However, since August last year, the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council's Zakat Collection Centre (PPZ-MAIWP) launched the zakat online payment system.
'Zakat' is a term used in Islamic finance to refer to the obligation of an individual to donate a certain proportion of wealth every year to charitable causes.
Now, Muslims can easily settle their zakat dues online by visiting the PPZ-MAIWP portal.
PORTAL
The portal at www.zakat.com.my proves to be popular as Muslims can pay their zakat at their convenience.
From August to December 2011, the PPZ received RM 266,638.28 in zakat payments from 740 individuals and this amount was 10 percent of the total zakat payment made via the PPZ-MAIWP portal.
From January to August this year, 613 more individuals made zakat payments through salary deduction and the total amount came out to be RM75,878.
According to the PPZ-MAIWP General Manager (Operations), Mohammed Hassan, zakat payment via salary deduction comes under the 'Thohir scheme'.
SCHEME
"Thohir means purity and involves scheduled salary deduction for zakat payment. The portal provides the facility for all types of zakat including income, savings, business, gold, shares and EPF."
Mohamed says, subscribers of the online zakat payment can calculate the amount of zakat that every individual needs to pay.
"They can make their own assessment and the assessed figure will be stored in the Assessment Record," Mohamed explains, adding that the data can be printed and adjusted as the assessment is for both monthly and yearly usage.
SALARY DEDUCTION
Mohammed says for those who wish to utilise the online zakat payment facility, they need to fill up the 'Borang Kebenaran Potongan Gaji (PPZ 052)', which allows the employer to remit the zakat payment to the PPZ-MAIWP directly.
The form is available online. PPZ-MAIWP will follow up with the respective employers on the salary deduction and this will take seven working days for processing.
The zakat payers can submit online cheques while those who are used to counter services can opt for online mode of payment by registering on the portal.
The payers can ask for a copy of the receipt and statement via email and the copies will be posted to their mailing address. They can also take printouts of the payment record.
REBATES
He says there are also rebates under the Zakat Rebate For Individuals under Section 6A (3) ACP 1967, effective from 1978.
Mohamed explains that the employer can now streamline the Schedular Tax Deduction (PCB) with that of the zakat salary deduction.
More information is available at 1-300-88-5757 or www.zakat.com.my.
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