Yes. This is one of the few money questions the New Testament answers flatly, and it answers
it under Roman occupation, which removes the usual escape route about the government not
deserving it.
Asked whether it was lawful to pay the imperial tax, Jesus asked whose image was on the
coin and told them to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to
God. Paul is even more direct: pay taxes, revenue, respect, honour: everything owed. He
says it about the same empire that would later execute him. Jesus also pays a temple tax he
argues he does not owe (Matthew 17:24-27), so as not to give offence, which is a striking restraint.
Two limits are worth keeping. First, taxation is not sacred: Samuel warns Israel exactly
what a king will take, and Rehoboam loses ten tribes over a tax revolt. Christians can
argue about rates and spending without being rebels. Second, the tax collectors who meet
Jesus are never told to quit; they are told to stop collecting more than they are
authorised to. The line is honesty.
In practice: use every deduction the law gives you, and report everything the law requires.
Arranging your affairs to owe less is legal; hiding income is theft with paperwork.
The passages
Printed in full from the public-domain World English Bible, resolved from a local copy of
that text before this page was built. Read them before you take our summary on trust, and
see how we read Scripture on money for the ten rules
every page here follows.
13They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words. 14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.” 16They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.
1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same, 4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing. 7Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
10Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king. 11He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots. 12He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even their best, and give them to his servants. 15He will take one tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers, and to his servants. 16He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work. 17He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. 18You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”