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Sellers may not take advantage of their customers' naivete by overcharging them or misrepresenting the quality of their merchandise. Rather, they must act with honesty and integrity. As it says, “When you sell property to your neighbor or buy anything from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another” (Leviticus 25:14). This mitzva includes the requirement that all weights and measures be properly calibrated, as it says, “You shall not falsify measures of length, weight, or capacity. You shall have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I the Lord am your God Who freed you from the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:35-36). Taking this a step further, our Sages forbid us even to keep an inaccurate scale in our home, in case we are tempted to use it to cheat people.
There is a mitzva for business people to tell the truth. They may not even exaggerate the quality of their merchandise. Furthermore, if they committed themselves to sell at a certain price, or to supply a product or a service by a certain time, they should honor their commitment. Sometimes competition is fierce and the temptation to cheat is hard to resist. However, a person who is honest will be blessed with success because trustworthiness is the true foundation of success, both in this world and the World to Come.
It is forbidden to cheat on one’s taxes, as this is stealing from the community. Tax fraud is forbidden for buyer and seller alike. Therefore, if salespeople ask someone if they prefer to pay 1,000 shekels (i.e., including taxes) and get a receipt, or pay 900 NIS without a receipt, they should pay 1,000 NIS and get a receipt.
