Tithe comes from an old English word meaning "tenth". Tithe is a kind of a tax or levy usually paid towards a Jewish or a Christian organisation. It is a one-tenth part of usually an income of the person. Nowadays, tithes or tithing is voluntary. It is usually paid by cash or cheques on in kind. The practice of tithing has been going on for a thousand of years. It was common throughout Arabia, Lydia and Carthage. It first appeared in the Bible in the Hebrew Old Testament. Tithes have been mentioned many times in the book of Genesis. These days tithes are also known as a church tax and is made to pay less than one-tenth of the income. It is made compulsory in many countries such as Austria which amounts to one per cent of income from all sources.