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1 – 10 of 435Jian Xie, Jiaxin Wang and Tianyi Lei
From the perspective of local government tax administration, the impact of geographic dispersion on the corporate tax burden is investigated in this paper.
Abstract
Purpose
From the perspective of local government tax administration, the impact of geographic dispersion on the corporate tax burden is investigated in this paper.
Design/methodology/approach
Using unbalanced panel data with a sample of listed companies from 2003 to 2020 in China, this paper focuses on the effect of geographic dispersion on corporate tax burden and the mechanisms.
Findings
It is found that corporate tax burden is positively related to geographic dispersion. It is also found that geographic dispersion affects the corporate tax burden by increasing the effort of local government tax administration. In addition, the relation between geographic dispersion and corporate tax burden is more pronounced for local SOEs prior to the implementation of Golden Tax Project III and in cases where local governments face stronger financial pressure to obtain revenue.
Originality/value
This study has important implications for the promotion of the coordinated development of the regional economy, as well as the legalization, modernization and informatization of tax administration.
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Rida Belahouaoui and El Houssain Attak
This study aims to understand the interaction between tax fairness perceptions, equitable tax burden distribution and tax compliance within Morocco’s unique socio-economic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the interaction between tax fairness perceptions, equitable tax burden distribution and tax compliance within Morocco’s unique socio-economic context, with the goal of uncovering strategies to enhance tax compliance.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the Delphi method, this study engaged tax experts in the Moroccan context to explore the impact of taxpayers’ perception of fairness, tax rates and tax burden on compliance. Their responses were gathered and analyzed with the aid of IRaMuTeQ software, which helped the authors identify themes relevant to the research question.
Findings
The preliminary results indicate a positive correlation between perceptions of tax fairness and compliance behavior, corroborating earlier studies conducted in different contexts. Notably, a substantial majority of Moroccan taxpayers perceive the current tax system as inequitable, deeming tax rates too high and the tax burden unfairly distributed among various taxpayer categories. This perception potentially influences their voluntary tax compliance behavior.
Practical implications
The findings have significant policy implications for the Moroccan Government and stakeholders. They suggest that by improving tax fairness, particularly by aligning tax assessment and payment modalities for employees, civil servants and small to medium enterprises, policymakers can encourage higher voluntary tax compliance, thereby potentially enhancing the efficiency of the Moroccan tax system.
Originality/value
This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by exploring the dynamics of tax fairness and compliance behavior in Morocco, a context which has been significantly understudied.
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John Kwaku Amoh, Kenneth Ofori-Boateng, Randolph Nsor-Ambala and Ebenezer Bugri Anarfo
Some African policymakers have turned their attention towards electronic transaction levy (e-levy) to maximise tax revenues in recent years due to the inability to meet revenue…
Abstract
Purpose
Some African policymakers have turned their attention towards electronic transaction levy (e-levy) to maximise tax revenues in recent years due to the inability to meet revenue targets. However, some argue that the implementation of an e-levy will increase the tax burden (TB) and the currency outside banks (COB). Primarily, this paper examined the effects of the TB and COB on economic development as well as the impact of institutional quality on moderating the nexus.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used structural equation modelling (SEM) and maximum likelihood (ML) estimation techniques on quarterised data from 1996 to 2020.
Findings
The results show that the TB negatively impacts gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and urbanisation but positively affects the Economic Freedom of the World Index (EFWI). The COB impacts EFWI, GDP per capita and urbanisation positively. Institutional quality moderates the TB and the COB, establishing positive relationships with the economic development indicators.
Practical implications
The findings strongly imply that the arguments that TB and COB are catalysts for tax evasion and corruption lack substantial empirical evidence.
Originality/value
The examination of the econometric impact of the COB on economic development is one of the first studies in the field. The paper recommends that to drive economic development and accelerate sustainable development goals (SDGs) achievement, tax revenues should be channelled into the productive sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
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The aim of this study was to examine the moderating roles of the legitimate power and distributive justice of the tax authority on the effect of procedural justice on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to examine the moderating roles of the legitimate power and distributive justice of the tax authority on the effect of procedural justice on the voluntary tax compliance of taxpayers in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, by using survey data collected from taxpayers in the city.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for the study were collected from 800 sample taxpayers who were drawn by using a systematic sampling technique. The variables of the study were constructed as indices from composing the scale items developed and tested for their validity by prior researchers. Having collected the data by using a 7-point Likert scale questionnaire and forming the latent variables, hierarchical multiple regressions were applied to determine the moderating effects of the two variables (i.e. legitimate power and distributive justice) on the effect of procedural justice on voluntary tax compliance.
Findings
The author found that both the legitimate power of the tax authority and distributive justice of the authority moderate the effect of procedural justice on voluntary tax compliance. The moderating roles of the two variables appear to be opposite in that low (but not high) distributive justice and high (but not low) legitimate power of the tax authority stimulate the effect of procedural justice on voluntary tax compliance.
Research limitations/implications
The first limitation is that the data used in this study are self-reported data while the subject of the study is sensitive subject about which respondents are not believed to provide genuine responses. This is presumably because taxpayers are less likely to confess their tax evasion as they fear legal actions following their self-report. Hence, other controlled methods such as the experimental design are recommended to replicate the results of this study. The second limitation is that data for the study were gathered through a one-time cross-sectional survey and hence it would not warrant a causal claim between the study variables. Consequently, other research with a longitudinal or experimental design might warrant a causal relationship between the variables.
Practical implications
Therefore, the tax authorities must endeavor to attain high legitimacy by doing “the right things” as perceived by the taxpayers so that their tax-related decisions gain acceptance from the decision recipients. Tax policy makers as well ought to consider the importance of and the relationship between procedural justice, distributive justice and legitimate power of the tax authority in order to attain the maximum possible voluntary compliance of taxpayers that significantly reduces the administrative cost of taxes.
Social implications
The study benefits society by enhancing tax compliance and hence helping the government secure a better amount of tax revenue and provide better public goods and services.
Originality/value
The findings of this study are of high theoretical and policy significance. Theoretically, the findings contribute to the integrative literature on economic deterrence and social-psychological factors that are responsible for voluntary tax compliance decisions. The parallel moderating roles of the two variables on the relationship between procedural justice and voluntary cooperation in a single model and in the tax compliance context are novel. In terms of applicability to policy formulations, they shed light on the need for a shift from a pure focus on aggressive tax audits and penalties, especially in emerging economies to a combination of the tax audits and the nurturing of the voluntary deference of taxpayers to the tax authority's decisions. Caution must, however, be taken that the results of this study may not be applicable to tax environments in other countries.
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Arshad Hasan, Naeem Sheikh and Muhammad Bilal Farooq
This study aims to examine why tax reforms fail and explores how tax collection can be improved within a developing country context.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine why tax reforms fail and explores how tax collection can be improved within a developing country context.
Design/methodology/approach
Data comprise 28 semi-structured interviews with taxpayers, tax experts and tax authority personnel based in Pakistan. The results are analysed using a combined lens of taxpayer trust and tax agencies’ capabilities.
Findings
Tax reforms failed to build taxpayers’ trust and tax agencies’ capabilities. Building trust is challenging and demands extensive ongoing engagement with taxpayers while yielding gradual permanent results. This requires enhancing confidence in government; educating taxpayers; removing complexities; introducing transparency and accountability in tax agencies’ operations and the tax system; promoting procedural and distributive justice; and reversing perceptions of corruption through reconciliation and stakeholder inclusivity. Developing tax agencies’ capabilities requires upgrading outdated technologies, systems and processes; implementing governance and organisational reforms; introducing an oversight board; and recruiting and training skilled professionals.
Practical implications
The findings can assist policymakers and tax collection authorities in understanding why tax reforms fail and identifying potential solutions.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the emerging literature by exploring tax administration failures in developing countries. It contributes to the literature by engaging stakeholders to understand why reforms fail and potential solutions to stimulate tax revenues.
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The purpose of this study is to shed light on the relationships between the different types of ownership structure and tax avoidance activities and examine the moderating effect…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to shed light on the relationships between the different types of ownership structure and tax avoidance activities and examine the moderating effect of audit quality.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used secondary data from the listed companies in Amman Stock Exchange (2009–2020). To obtain additional robust findings, this study used various proxies for measuring tax avoidance (effective tax rate [ETR] and cash flow effective tax rate [CFETR]).
Findings
Relying on various proxies for tax avoidance, the results reveal that family and managerial ownership lead to exacerbating tax avoidance activities. Although institutional and board ownership have a positive impact on ETR and CFETR, which indicate that these type of ownership have a negative impact on tax avoidance. Audit quality also has a significant role in moderating the ownership structure–tax avoidance relationships. Besides, the results reveal that audit firm size is not merely symbolic words, but it contributes to reducing and restricting tax aggressiveness.
Research limitations/implications
This study has policy implications related to the policymakers in creating future tax policies to minimize and avoid tax avoidance activities. Results of this study can be used to improve awareness among the various owners and to reduce the tax avoidance practices in the developing countries. It also determines a good agenda for research in the relationships between ownership identities, audit quality and tax avoidance, which also can be used to encourage and guide future studies.
Originality/value
This research extends the existing literature by examining both the direct and indirect influence of ownership structure on tax avoidance in Jordanian firms by including audit quality as a moderating variable. This is a pioneering and unique study examining the joint influence of the different forms of ownership on tax avoidance. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that examines the interaction influences between the various identities of ownership and audit quality on the tax avoidance activities in the Jordanian context.
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John Kwaku Amoh, Kenneth Ofori-Boateng, Randolph Nsor-Ambala and Ebenezer Bugri Anarfo
This study explored the tax evasion and corruption–economic development nexus in Ghana and the moderating role of institutional quality in this relationship.
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored the tax evasion and corruption–economic development nexus in Ghana and the moderating role of institutional quality in this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve this objective, this study employed the structural equation modelling (SEM) strategy and maximum likelihood (ML) estimation method on selected quarterised data from 1996 to 2020.
Findings
The study found that tax evasion has a positive impact on GDP per capita and urbanisation but a negative impact on the Economic Freedom of the World Index (EFWI). The study revealed that corruption has a positive relationship with GDP per capita but relates with EFWI inversely. Finally, the study found that institutional quality moderates the nexus between tax evasion and corruption and economic development.
Social implications
The findings imply that the quality of state institutions has a significant impact on the government's ability to control tax evasion and corruption in order to drive economic development.
Originality/value
One novelty of the study is the examination of the combined effects of tax evasion and corruption as exogenous variables in a single econometric model. Again, to moderate the multivariate relationships of the study, the principal component analysis (PCA) was used to create an institutional quality index. The study recommends that policymakers implement comprehensive tax evasion and corruption reduction strategies simultaneously in order to increase tax revenues for economic development and SDGs achievement.
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Saeed Rabea Baatwah and Khaled Hussainey
This study aims to examine how new regulation changes for the auditor’s report, so-called key audit matters (KAMs), influence tax avoidance.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how new regulation changes for the auditor’s report, so-called key audit matters (KAMs), influence tax avoidance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses data from firms listed on the Omani capital market over the period 2012–2019 and analyzes these data using pooled panel data regression with a robust standard error. It uses two common proxies for tax avoidance and two measures for the KAMs disclosure requirement.
Findings
This study finds a sharp decrease in the effective tax rate following the introduction of KAMs disclosure and the issuance of more KAMs in audit reports. This result is supported by several robustness checks. In an additional analysis, the authors observe interesting results, indicating that real earnings management mediates this association, while the audit committee plays a moderating role. The authors do not find a moderating effect of Big4 on this association, but find discrepancies within the Big4 firms in relation to this moderating effect.
Originality/value
The results of this study indicate that although the introduction of the KAMs disclosure requirement may have positive consequences, it may also lead to unintended negative consequences. This conclusion has not been comprehensively reported in literature.
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Souhir Neifar and Silke Huesing
This paper aims to examine the effect of contractual factors and noncontractual factors on tax avoidance (TA).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the effect of contractual factors and noncontractual factors on tax avoidance (TA).
Design/methodology/approach
The sample comprises 400 firm-year observations of 67 companies listed on the HDAX during the period 2008–2017. The generalized least square panel regression is applied.
Findings
The study results confirm a significant effect of long-term chief executive officer (CEO) compensation incentives and CEO attributes on TA. Findings exhibit a significant impact of foreign CEO on TA, whereas an insider CEO mitigates TA. The results hold for several robustness tests, with lag effective tax rate as dependent variable and with splitting foreign CEO into European and non-European origin.
Research limitations/implications
First, the sample is limited to 400 firm-year observations and to the German context. For shareholders, the study provides first evidence on relationships between the geographical and internal versus external labor market for CEOs and TA. For researchers, the findings underline the importance of integrating behavioral approaches like place attachment theory and the rooting theory in the theory of TA.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of both contractual determinants and behavioral determinants on TA in the German context as an emerged economy with a dualistic corporate governance. This study contributes to the existing literature regarding the scientific debates about the impact of CEOs and CEO attributes on TA. It also analyses the balance between the place attachment theory and the rooting theory in the face of the compensation outcomes of agency theory.
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Arfah Habib Saragih and Syaiful Ali
This paper aims to study the impact of the adoption of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) on corporate tax avoidance.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the impact of the adoption of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) on corporate tax avoidance.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used a quantitative method with panel data regression models using a sample of firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2018.
Findings
The regression results demonstrate that XBRL implementation does not have any impact on corporate tax avoidance. The results indicate that tax avoidance is not reduced following XBRL adoption. This report shows unexpected and unfavourable outcomes of XBRL financial reporting in a developing country.
Research limitations/implications
This study employs a sample of firms from one emerging country only.
Practical implications
The study proposes several implications for using XBRL in tax reporting, which may help the tax authorities reduce tax avoidance. Regulators need to develop adequate taxonomies with standardized extensions related to tax information in the XBRL format. They include tax tags from financial statements and tax tags from the disclosure section, to gain more comprehensive corporate tax information.
Originality/value
This study proposes and tests an explanation for the effect of XBRL adoption on corporate tax avoidance in the context of a developing country.
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