Zakat

Is it counted as Zakat if we helped a family member who had financial problems or was poor? Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi	Why do people in the West who already pay multiple taxes, that get used by the government to pay for the poor and needy, also have to pay Islamic taxes such as Zakat? Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi
Did Imam Ali (as) pay any religious dues such as Zakat to the first three caliphs during their rule? Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi	Is paying income tax or other such taxes counted as Zakat? Abbas Di Palma