Getting goods past the octroi

Question

Question: Is it permissible or not to “steal” from the octroi (a levy on goods brought into a town) and from the railway fare? That is, to bring one’s goods by rail, or to travel oneself, without paying the fare; or to go along with the guard or the like and bring one’s goods, bringing them hidden from the octroi collectors so that no octroi has to be paid; or the box contains high-quality goods but one has them recorded as inferior so that less octroi is charged?

Answer

Lying is also impermissible, and stealing also brings disgrace (loss of honour); avoiding this too is wajib.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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