Can Forced Collection Of Zakat Be Only Considered A Tax?
The verses of Sura Tawba tells that the criteria to accept someone to be Muslim is when he establish prayer and pays zakat, until then the Muslims were ordered to keep fighting them. When the fulfil this criteria only then will be a brother in faith and entitle to get their rights as citizens. In another verse 22:14, God makes it duty of the Muslims that when they come in power they will establish prayer and pay zakat. Since this is mentioned with power it means that these two obligations are to be fulfilled with the power. They will make their office holders establish prayer and collect zakat. So zakat is the tax imposed by God to be collected with authority by the Muslim govt.
Quran calls it zakat so I don’t think that we have any basis to call it anything else. As far as Ijma and Tawatur of zakat is concerned, I addressed that with you in the following discussion: Discussion 48917