Question: I have just converted to Islam, and want to pay Zakah in the way prescribed by Islam. Please advise. 
    Answer: You can calculate Zakah in the following manner:
    1. Fix any one day of the year for the calculation of Zakah. On all subsequent years, Zakah should be calculated on this day.
    2. Subtract the value of 612 grams of silver from your total wealth on this particular day which includes value of your jewelry not worn everyday, value of other assets which are not of personal use (your personal house and car are examples of assets in personal use). 
    3. 2 1/2 % of this amount is the Zakah to which you are liable. In case you are a salaried person you should also pay 10 %1 of your salary every time you receive it. You can deduct the amount the government has fixed as exemption to salaried persons and then pay the said percentage of the remaining amount as Zakah.
Remember, if it is not possible to pay your Zakah money in one go you can pay in installments as well. 
    4. Since Zakah is the only tax which a government can impose on its citizens, you can deduct other taxes that you have paid from the your Zakah amount. If the balance is negative you do not have to pay Zakah.