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Tax compliance costs: Cost burden and cost reliability

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  • Eichfelder, Sebastian
  • Hechtner, Frank

Abstract

As documented by empirical research, tax compliance costs are a considerable burden for private businesses. However, cost estimates may be biased due to survey non-response and questionnaire framing effects. This paper investigates the impact of both aspects on cost estimates. We do not find significant evidence for a non-response bias. By contrast, our results indicate that framing effects regarding the temporal dimension of cost measurement (temporal framing effects) might alter cost estimates by about 39 percent downwards (65 percent upwards) on average and by up to 53 percent downwards (respectively 112 percent upwards) for small businesses. We also test a number of cost drivers with a focus on e-government features. We do not find any evidence that the use of Belgian e-government applications in 2002 and 2004 significantly reduced compliance costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Eichfelder, Sebastian & Hechtner, Frank, 2016. "Tax compliance costs: Cost burden and cost reliability," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 212, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:arqudp:212
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Eichfelder, Sebastian, 2013. "Compliance cost estimates: Survey non-response and temporal framing effects," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 146, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
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    16. Hudson, John & Godwin, Michael, 2000. "The compliance costs of collecting direct tax in the UK:: An analysis of PAYE and National Insurance," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 29-44, July.
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    18. Kay Blaufus & Sebastian Eichfelder & Jochen Hundsdoerfer, 2014. "Income Tax Compliance Costs of Working Individuals," Public Finance Review, , vol. 42(6), pages 800-829, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    compliance cost measurement; cost measurement error; cost drivers; non-response bias; temporal framing; e-filing; e-government;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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