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The Impact of Plastic Money Use on VAT Compliance: Evidence from EU Countries

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  • Amakoe D. Alognon

    (International Center for Public Policy, Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University)

  • Antonios M. Koumpias

    (Department of Social Sciences, University of Michigan-Dearborn & Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan)

  • Jorge Martinez-Vazquez

    (International Center for Public Policy, Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University)

Abstract

In the recent decades, several countries around the world have implemented cash restriction policies to incentivize the use of electronic means of payments with the aim to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and tax evasion. This paper examines the impact of the proliferation in credit and debit card usage on consumption tax compliance using annual national level data for 26 European Union (EU) member states from 2000 to 2016. We measure consumption tax compliance using estimated Value-Added Tax (VAT) gaps, defined as the difference between the theoretical VAT liability according to the law and actual VAT collections. We exploit variation in time and space of credit and debit card usage across 26 EU member states from 2000-16 using panel data and instrumental variable techniques. We find that plastic money use significantly reduces tax evasion while cash withdrawals appear to noticeably widen the compliance gap. This paper contributes to the literature on the effect of modern means of payment on tax compliance by using a more adequate measure of the VAT compliance gap compared to earlier works and by accounting for potential confounders such as tax policy choices and ex ante enforcement capacity of tax administrations to curb the gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Amakoe D. Alognon & Antonios M. Koumpias & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, 2020. "The Impact of Plastic Money Use on VAT Compliance: Evidence from EU Countries," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper2004, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper2004
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    1. Christou Anna & Eriotis Nikolaos & Lomis Ioannis & Papadakis Spyros & Thalassinos Eleftherios, 2021. "The Greek VAT Gap: The Influence of Individual Economic Sectors," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4B), pages 851-882.
    2. Amakoe D. Alognon & Antonios M. Koumpias & Jorge Martínez-Vázquez, 2021. "The Impact of Plastic Money Use on VAT Compliance: Evidence from EU Countries," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 239(4), pages 5-26, November.
    3. Antón, Arturo & Hernández-Trillo, Fausto & Ventosa-Santaulària, Daniel, 2021. "(In)Effective tax enforcement and demand for cash," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. César Pérez López & María Jesús Delgado Rodríguez & Sonia de Lucas Santos, 2023. "Modelización de los factores que afectan al fraude fiscal con técnicas de minería de datos: aplicación al Impuesto de la Renta en España," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 246(3), pages 137-164, September.
    5. Theodoros Kounadeas, 2023. "The Effectiveness of Digital Payments in Tackling Tax Evasion in Greece," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 3-21.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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