Q: Can tax paid be intended as Zakah, as some money is used for the benefit of Muslims?
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب
A: Ones Zakah liability cannot be offset with one’s tax liability. Zakah is a mode of worship and its recipients are the Muslim poor and destitute. Tax is paid to the UK Government to whom ownership accrues. Even if there was a system wherein the tax paid by oneself to the UK Government definitely did go to eligible poor Muslims in its entirety, ones Zakah would still not be discharged thereby.