Zakat nisab is a certain amount of cash/gold, so anyone have that much or more than that must pay zakat, so it's kind of limit set who needs to pay and who do not need to pay, see details below from www.islamcity.com
Zakat is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this nisab. The nisab (or minimum amount) of gold and golden currency is 20 mithqal, this is approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One mithqal is approx 4.25 grams. The nisab of silver and silver currency is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The nisab of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold, 85 grams of pure gold. This means that the nisab of money is the price of 85 grams of 999-type (pure) gold, on the day in which Zakat is paid. (Current Gold Prices)
now if my logic is correct, say one ounce of gold equals 1000 USD, so 85 grams approx are around 3.03 ounce or 3000 USD worth of Gold/cash etc
So anyone have combination of 3000 USD = 10950 QAR approx. is above Nisab and MUST pay Zakat.
2nd part who and where to pay, we all need to be very careful as unlinke general charity which can even be indirectly given your relatives, Zakat must be given to certain personnel/areas per below
5.0 THOSE TO WHOM IT IS AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE ZAKAT
5.1 Those Who May Receive Zakat
Allah, the Exalted, says, (translated), "Alms are only for the poor, the destitute, those who collect them, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for [mukatib] slaves, debtors, and in the Path of Allah, and the wayfarer. An [ordained] obligation from Allah. And Allah is Knowing, Wise." [Qur’an, 9:60]
These, then, are eight categories, out of which ‘those whose hearts are to be reconciled’ have dropped, because Allah has granted honor to Islam and has freed [it] of need of them.
* The Poor : is one who has the least of things.
* The Destitute : is one who has nothing.
* The [Zakat] Worker : is paid by the imam in proportion to his work, if he worked.
* Slaves : the mukatibun are assisted in freeing themselves.
* The Debtor : is one on whom a debt is incumbent.
* In the Path of Allah : are the stranded fighters.
* The Wayfarer : is one who has money in his home-land, but is in a place in which he has nothing.
These, then are the sections of zakat. The possessor may pay [some] to each of them, or he may restrict himself to one category.
5.2 Causes Not Eligible for Receipt of Zakat
1. It is not permissible for one to give zakat to a dhimmi,
2. Nor may a mosque be built with it,
3. Nor may a dead person be shrouded with it,
4. Nor may a slave be bought with it to free,
5. Nor may it be payed to a rich person.
Lastly I found attached excel sheet helpful to calculate Zakat, it has guidance, majority of part it is 2.5% of your cash/gold other valuables, e.g. if you have 20000 Riyal cash in your bank on day you calculate Zakat, 2.5 % will be 500 riyals, however see attached excel for details.
Allow me to answer to best of my knowledge
Zakat nisab is a certain amount of cash/gold, so anyone have that much or more than that must pay zakat, so it's kind of limit set who needs to pay and who do not need to pay, see details below from www.islamcity.com
Zakat is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this nisab. The nisab (or minimum amount) of gold and golden currency is 20 mithqal, this is approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One mithqal is approx 4.25 grams. The nisab of silver and silver currency is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The nisab of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold, 85 grams of pure gold. This means that the nisab of money is the price of 85 grams of 999-type (pure) gold, on the day in which Zakat is paid. (Current Gold Prices)
now if my logic is correct, say one ounce of gold equals 1000 USD, so 85 grams approx are around 3.03 ounce or 3000 USD worth of Gold/cash etc
So anyone have combination of 3000 USD = 10950 QAR approx. is above Nisab and MUST pay Zakat.
2nd part who and where to pay, we all need to be very careful as unlinke general charity which can even be indirectly given your relatives, Zakat must be given to certain personnel/areas per below
5.0 THOSE TO WHOM IT IS AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE ZAKAT
5.1 Those Who May Receive Zakat
Allah, the Exalted, says, (translated), "Alms are only for the poor, the destitute, those who collect them, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for [mukatib] slaves, debtors, and in the Path of Allah, and the wayfarer. An [ordained] obligation from Allah. And Allah is Knowing, Wise." [Qur’an, 9:60]
These, then, are eight categories, out of which ‘those whose hearts are to be reconciled’ have dropped, because Allah has granted honor to Islam and has freed [it] of need of them.
* The Poor : is one who has the least of things.
* The Destitute : is one who has nothing.
* The [Zakat] Worker : is paid by the imam in proportion to his work, if he worked.
* Slaves : the mukatibun are assisted in freeing themselves.
* The Debtor : is one on whom a debt is incumbent.
* In the Path of Allah : are the stranded fighters.
* The Wayfarer : is one who has money in his home-land, but is in a place in which he has nothing.
These, then are the sections of zakat. The possessor may pay [some] to each of them, or he may restrict himself to one category.
5.2 Causes Not Eligible for Receipt of Zakat
1. It is not permissible for one to give zakat to a dhimmi,
2. Nor may a mosque be built with it,
3. Nor may a dead person be shrouded with it,
4. Nor may a slave be bought with it to free,
5. Nor may it be payed to a rich person.
Lastly I found attached excel sheet helpful to calculate Zakat, it has guidance, majority of part it is 2.5% of your cash/gold other valuables, e.g. if you have 20000 Riyal cash in your bank on day you calculate Zakat, 2.5 % will be 500 riyals, however see attached excel for details.
see this link for excel file
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/699050
Regards,