What was the name of the poll tax imposed on non-Muslims in the Ottoman Empire? It was called jizya. The term referred to a tax imposed on certain non-Muslim subjects of an Islamic state, including Christian and Jewish communities in the Ottoman Empire.
In theory, jizya was associated with protected status, religious autonomy, and exemption from military service. Ottoman authorities collected it from non-Muslim communities and used it as an important source of treasury revenue. The exact amount and collection method varied by period, region, community, and ability to pay.
Jizya should not be confused with zakat, the obligatory alms associated with Muslims. Kharaj was generally a land tax, although historical sources sometimes used jizya and kharaj inconsistently. A community could also pay jizya collectively, with wealthier members helping cover those unable to pay.
The Ottoman Empire abolished jizya in 1856 during the Tanzimat reform period. It was replaced by other arrangements, including a military-substitution tax known as bedl-i askeri.