This question follows on from the previous one and is dealt with in the answer to that question. However, perhaps it is as well for me to restate for you how we are to view tax and the tithe.

Tax is not an outlay cost. Tax is a payment we make to the government from our financial increase. It is one of the costs of life in society rather than a cost of our work.

Our tithe is always paid on our increase. As soon as we know how much our "increase" was we tithe it.

Perhaps the government took tax out of your increase before in came into your hands. Nevertheless, your "increase" is what would have been in your hand if tax had not been deducted. The amount you tithe on is the amount the government viewed to be your income. (This is referring, of course, to what the government considers to be your income before it takes tax allowances into account.)

I'll put it another way, we give tithes on our increase. Your increase is what is added to you over and above your outlay. In other words, it's all of the return on your investment or your labour.

The employer might take out of your "pay packet" certain government or local government taxes and insurances. These are all living expenses that are coming out of your increase. If these are taken out of your "pay packet" before it comes to you then in calculating your tithe you have to put this figure back in. You have to add back in the amount taken out for taxes and insurance and then calculate your tithe.

Question:

Do tax rebates effect my tithe?

The simple answer is no. Taxes rebates do not effect your tithe. Tithes are given on your net income before tax - since tax should be regarded as a living expense not a business expense - so if later a tax rebate comes in you do not need to give a tithe on it.

Here's an illustration in way of explanation:

Let me set the scene for the illustration, a court - in some circumstances - can order an employer to pay a creditor (such as an electricity company) money owed it directly from the employees wage packet before he gets it in his hand. If the employee were a Christian his tithe would be on his pay calculation not on his pay in hand after the payment to the creditor.

The same applies to payments made out of a wage packet for taxes due. The Christian tither pays tithe on his pay calculation before the payment to the Inland Revenue.

Now, to continue the illustration, if later the electricity company (the creditor) decide they'd like to give this customer a rebate on his electricity bill, that is, give him back some of the money paid then our Christian tither says, "Praise God, I have favour with the men of the electricity company they've given me a rebate. My electricity expenses for this year are less and thank God for this blessing that is mine as a tither!"

This is also exactly how the Christian tither should give thanks to God for his tax back! He says, "Praise God, my tax bill for this year is less, thank God for this blessing that is mine as a tither!"

(Please note there is no increase - that is, fresh income - involved in either case. Both are rebates, both are blessings!)

Give your tithe on your written, stated pay calculation before any deductions are made from it for taxes and other living liabilities. This is so simple and once it's done you're completely finished with the whole matter and have only to wait expectantly for the blessings to arrive and the protection of God to manifest.

Question:

If you receive an inheritance, how do you tithe? Do you invest the money and tithe on the income? Or do you tithe from the principal?

An inheritance is increase. It is what God has increased you with. Therefore you tithe everything that comes into your possession from that inheritance.

This is just like Abraham giving a tithe of all the spoil from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings. He didn't go off first and invest the goods. He immediately gave a tithe of all because this "all" was what God had increased him with. Genesis 14:17-20

These are a few of the Bible verses referred to on these pages:

"After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."

Genesis 14:17-20 - NIV

"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain form the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

Leviticus 27:30 - NIV

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

Proverbs 3:9-10 - NIV

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Luke 6:38 - NIV