Search results
1 – 10 of 65Mahdi Salehi, Hossein Tarighi and Tahereh Alidoust Shahri
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between auditor characteristics and the level of tax avoidance in an emerging market.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between auditor characteristics and the level of tax avoidance in an emerging market.
Design/methodology/approach
In this regard, the effect of various factors such as auditor tenure, auditor industry specialization, audit reports and audit fees on tax avoidance was examined. The study sample includes listed companies in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The time period of study is six years from 2011 to 2016. Also in this study, firm size, leverage, firm age and auditor size were controlled.
Findings
The results of this research were determined in four hypotheses. First and second hypotheses that explore the relationship between auditor tenure and auditor industry specialization with tax avoidance were not confirmed. But the results showed a significant relationship between the type of audit opinions and audit fees with tax avoidance.
Originality/value
The current study investigates the auditor characteristics on tax avoidance in a developing nation of Iran and the results may helpful the developing countries.
Details
Keywords
Anshu Duhoon and Mohinder Singh
The increased interest among academicians to explore more about tax management behavior is evident in the literature on corporate tax avoidance. This paper aims to illustrate the…
Abstract
Purpose
The increased interest among academicians to explore more about tax management behavior is evident in the literature on corporate tax avoidance. This paper aims to illustrate the multiple aspects that influence the tax avoidance behavior of corporations and its impacts through the systematic review method.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used “Tax Avoidance” OR “Tax Aggressiveness” OR “Tax Planning” as search strings to extract the relevant literature from the Scopus database. This study is a comprehensive analysis of existing literature on corporate tax avoidance behavior. Further, the keyword network analysis has been used to find out the most explored and dry research areas related to corporate tax avoidance behavior using VOSviewer software.
Findings
The study finds that taxation decision is an important managerial decision. Managers adopt tax avoidance tactics to boost postax profits to meet the shareholders’ expectations, particularly of risk-averse shareholders, and sometimes for their benefit also. With this, this study also finds that firms’ characteristics, political connections and corporate social responsibility activities also impact taxation decisions. In addition, the study identifies that tax-avoiding behavior has a contradictory impact on firm value, market growth and corporate transparency disclosure decisions.
Research limitations/implications
The study assists the researchers by providing a brief overview of tax avoidance behavior, for corporates in understanding the implications of tax avoidance, and for policymakers to fix the taxation loopholes and bring necessary tax reforms.
Originality/value
This study adds to the existing literature by providing a thorough overview of theories, determinants and outcomes of corporate tax avoidance behavior.
Details
Keywords
This paper attempts to develop a simple, static model of tax administration that is capable of explaining the widespread collusive petty tax administration corruption observed in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to develop a simple, static model of tax administration that is capable of explaining the widespread collusive petty tax administration corruption observed in developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilizes a positivist research framework and adopts a theoretical method of analysis, although secondary data will also be mentioned to support theoretical arguments whenever it is appropriate to do so.
Findings
A high rate of collusive tax corruption is inevitable in developing countries.
Research limitations/implications
The model is static and needs to be extended into a dynamic model.
Practical implications
Traditional enforcement tools such as higher audits or a higher penalty regime against tax evasion do not work. Tax simplification can lessen the incidence of tax corruption.
Social implications
Fighting tax corruption requires significant changes in the attitudes of taxpayers and tax auditors.
Originality/value
This paper combines the literature on Kantian economics and tax compliance in an innovative fashion.
Details
Keywords
This study aims to explain the Indian taxpayers’ harassment saga in the name of revenue collections by the taxmen.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explain the Indian taxpayers’ harassment saga in the name of revenue collections by the taxmen.
Design/methodology/approach
The study gas adopted descriptive viewpoints supported by empirical evidence.
Findings
Pursuant to the recent amendments in the Act, a good number of Sections such as 132(1), 132(1 A) and 153 A have empowered the tax officials to conduct raids without explaining the reasons, call for papers for reopening assessments of cases of a decade old and has increased the quantum of penalty for the default period substantially.
Originality/value
The paper is an original one and free from plagiarism.
Details
Keywords
Bojan Dobovšek and Boštjan Slak
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of studying the quasi-legal forms of informal economic behaviour that we know as the white informal economy. The paper…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of studying the quasi-legal forms of informal economic behaviour that we know as the white informal economy. The paper also sheds light on the role of the informal economy in the financial crisis that started in 2008. Finally, the aim of the paper is also to encourage empirical research about these concepts.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is theoretical and based on a literature review.
Findings
The paper implies that when discussing about informal economy, different sub-categories should continue to be used in order to distinguish the various forms of informal economic practices. There is a particular need for research on practices of economic activities that are legal but not always moral, yet severely damaging. For such activities, the authors propose the term/categorisation the “white informal economy”. Additionally, the authors argue that in the causal links of events that brought about the financial crisis the role of the white informal economy was significant.
Practical implications
The paper wishes to encourage further research on the topic of (white) informal economy that in turn would also create the scenario for proper policy development for tackling tax avoidance, tax evasion and future financial crises.
Originality/value
The paper adds to scholarship that takes a critical standpoint towards the financial crisis and to scholarship on the informal economy. It presents an attempt to stimulate further discussion about the connectivity of the informal economy and the financial crisis.
Details
Keywords
Clement Olatunji Olaoye, Stephen Ayodeji Ogunleye and Festus Taiwo Solanke
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the tax audit on tax productivity in Lagos state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study analyzed trends of tax audit and tax…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the tax audit on tax productivity in Lagos state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study analyzed trends of tax audit and tax productivity, and the impact of Desk audit, Field audit and Back-duty audit on tax productivity in Lagos state.
Design/methodology/approach
The study made use of both primary and secondary data. Primary data used in the study were collected with the use of questionnaires administered to 350 randomly selected staffs of Lagos state Internal Revenue Services, while secondary data used in the study were sourced from Federal Inland Revenue Service and Lagos Internal Revenue Service audit division in Lagos state over the period spanning from 2000 to 2015. Data collated in the study were analyzed descriptively using inferential methods such as unit root test, and estimation techniques such as Fully Modified Least Square (FMOLS) co-integration regression and Logit regression analysis.
Findings
The study revealed that Field tax audit, desk tax audit and Back duty tax audit exert a significant positive impact on tax productivity with reported estimate of 0.530454 (p=0.0044<0.05) for FIDAUD, 0.774450 (p=0.0085< 0.05) for DEKAUD, 1.244317 (p=0.0001<0.05) for BAKAUD.
Research limitations/implications
Relevant tax authority (RTA), tax auditors and FIRS staff members should have full knowledge of modern audit tools like Computer Aided Audit Tools (CAATs) to enhance performance and maximum tax revenue generation.
Practical implications
The study concluded that tax audit enhances the level of productivity of tax administration in Lagos state and that any form of tax audit has the tendency of influencing revenue accruing to the government from taxation positively. Hence, tax audit should be carried out on a routine basis to ensure that actual revenue collected is what the RTA remits to the government. Tax audit department should be given autonomy to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Social implications
Tax audit should be carried out on a routine basis to ensure that actual revenue collected is what the RTA remits to the government. Tax audit department should be given autonomy to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Originality/value
This tax audit and tax productivity in Lagos state, Nigeria, fulfills an identified need to study how brand-supportive behavior can be enabled.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to investigate and provide pathways for leveraging the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD’s) Ten Global Principles (TGPs) for countering…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate and provide pathways for leveraging the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD’s) Ten Global Principles (TGPs) for countering tax crimes in the EU.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is guided by the combination of traditional and innovative research methods drawn from criminal law and justice, public regulatory theory and tax law, based on socio-legal and comparative methodologies.
Findings
The research shows that EU has achieved considerable amount of progress when it comes to meeting the TGPs. However, law and practice in EU Member States indicate that there are different legal, human and organisational approaches to fighting tax crimes. The TGPs could be strategically applied to complementing the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) and other initiatives on Administrative Cooperation.
Research limitations/implications
Although the TGPs appear encompassing, there are opportunities to harness the potency of these principles and to provide more tailored principles that can help engineer sustainable remedies for countering tax crimes in the EU.
Practical implications
The paper critically analyses, through a multidisciplinary approach, the main legal, human and organisational factors influencing the prosecution of tax crimes in the EU Member States.
Social implications
Realignment and harmonisation of tax enforcement paractices in the EU Member States thus help in the reduction of tax gap resulting from tax offences.
Originality/value
The paper provides novel approaches and findings based on empirical info obtained from face-to-face focus groups with end users and law enforcement agencies in tax enforcement eco-system in ten different EU Member States.
Details
Keywords
Anna Herculina Anculien Schoeman, Christopher C. Evans and Hanneke Du Preez
Correct registration for the value-added tax (VAT) is a key aspect of tax compliance; it is vital in ensuring adequate tax revenue collection in all countries but particularly in…
Abstract
Purpose
Correct registration for the value-added tax (VAT) is a key aspect of tax compliance; it is vital in ensuring adequate tax revenue collection in all countries but particularly in developing countries such as South Africa. Non-registration hinders sufficient tax revenue collection, stifles economic growth and causes unfair competition with formal businesses. The purpose of this study is to determine whether changes in the VAT rate affect the registration decisions of businesses, ultimately impacting upon tax compliance behaviour and tax revenue collection.
Design/methodology/approach
An online 2 × 2 between-subjects field experiment was conducted, as part of a broader study, to consider compliance with registration requirements by small business entities in South Africa, specifically when there are changes in the VAT rate.
Findings
Although the study establishes that changes in the VAT rate tend not to have a significant impact on the registration decisions of such taxpayers, it nonetheless indicates that the magnitude of the change in the VAT rate may be influential on registration decisions, whether relating to compulsory or voluntary registration. More particularly, the greater the magnitude of the VAT rate decrease (increase), the more likely it is that taxpayers will register (deregister) for VAT purposes, indicating that the magnitude of changes in the VAT rate do have an impact on VAT registration decisions and therefore on tax compliance more generally.
Research limitations/implications
Not only does the study add to the limited knowledge available on registration decisions of small businesses, but also gives valuable guidance to policymakers in terms of determining the VAT rate for the country.
Originality/value
Not only does the study add to the limited knowledge available on registration decisions of small businesses, but it also gives valuable guidance to policymakers in terms of determining the VAT rate for the country.
Details
Keywords
This paper analyzes the role that the climate change concern (CCCi) has on the willingness to accept an environmental tax. The author aims to grasp how individual general tax…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper analyzes the role that the climate change concern (CCCi) has on the willingness to accept an environmental tax. The author aims to grasp how individual general tax preferences can differ with respect to the specific (environmental) tax. He focuses attention to the Italian case since it has been argued that the potential acceptability of a carbon tax in Italy is relatively high, and this topic has been scarcely explored so far among Italian citizens (Rotaris and Danielis, 2019).
Design/methodology/approach
The author conducted an online survey among 514 Italian economics students.
Findings
The CCCi positively influences the environmental tax morale (ETMi). The general tax morale (TMi) positively affects the specific (environmental) TMi. The CCCi alters individual tax preferences. The author evidenced that also subjects with low TMi turned out to be willing to pay an environmental tax if aware of the environmental issues.
Research limitations/implications
Although the author used a common methodology in this strand of research, he is aware that in an online survey individuals can be influenced by the self-reporting and hypothetical choice bias (see Swamy et al., 2001), that in turn can characterize their reported preferences. Moreover, even if economics university students are commonly used as a subject pool in experimental economics settings, and although several studies showed that the behavioral responses of students are largely the same as those of nonstudents in identical experiments (for a discussion see Alm, 2012; Choo et al., 2016), there is awareness that in this case, they are not taxpayers yet (Barabas and Jerit, 2010).
Practical implications
The author’s results remark the importance of increasing climate change awareness among people to let them be more willing to pay the environmental tax, for instance through investments in sensibilization campaigns on the importance of energy source usage and climate-related topic. Then, an increase in the general TMi leads to an increase in the specific (environmental) TMi. The author’s evidence showed that people with high tax morale logically recognize the positive impact of paying an environmental tax when the CCCi increases, since the more the theme becomes important, the larger the willingness to pay the specific tax. For this reason, policymakers should carry on campaigns to increase the general level of TMi to increase the overall tax compliance level and the relative tax revenues, following the guidelines given by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2019) to support taxpayer education programs, such as including TMi research and analysis into education programs, improving the ease of paying taxes or strengthening revenue–expenditure links to build the social contract.
Social implications
It should be paramount to increase awareness about environmental topics among people in general and among those who are relatively tax immoral. The author’s results remark on the importance of targeting energy and environmental tax policies to groups rather than to individuals. According to this evidence, we support the use of nonmonetary tools to nudge people in the environmental transition by changing their behavior in energy use, for instance through the taxation on fuel and other nonrenewable energy resources.
Originality/value
It is the first empirical study that analyzes the impact of CCCi on the environmental TMi in Italy, in particular controlling for the role of the general willingness to pay taxes (TMi). To obtain individual attitudes toward tax payment, most of the empirical studies in behavioral economics employ international surveys. For studies across citizens living in European countries, the European Social Survey (ESS) and European Values Study (EVS) represent the most used ones (see, for instance, Martinez-Vazquez and Torgler (2009) in Spain; Torgler and Werner (2005) in Germany; Nemore and Morone (2019) in Italy). However, these surveys do not allow to study the relationship between the environmental and general TMi across the same subject pool. In fact, despite the ESS (2016) provides individual responses about the willingness to pay an environmental tax, it does not provide information about the general individual attitude toward tax payment (this information is contained only in the ESS wave of 2004, hence referring to a different subject pool). On the contrary, each wave of the EVS (i.e. 2008, 2017) provides information about the general individual attitude toward tax payment, but this survey does not provide a question regarding the willingness to pay an environmental tax. Therefore, to obtain information about the willingness to pay both general and environmental taxes, across the same subject pool, it is needed to carry out a survey.
Details