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Tax compliance in a social setting: The influence of social norms, trust in government, and perceived fairness on taxpayer compliance

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  • Jimenez, Peggy
  • Iyer, Govind S.

Abstract

Voluntary tax compliance is important for governments around the world as they try to manage budget deficits. Traditional methods to improve tax compliance, such as increased audits, can be costly to implement. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence that social factors have on individuals' tax compliance intentions. Results of a survey of 217 U.S. taxpayers found support for the influence of social factors on tax compliance. This research concludes that social norms influence compliance intentions indirectly through internalization as personal norms. Specifically, as the strength of social norms in favor of tax compliance increases, personal norms of tax compliance also increase, and this leads to a subsequent increase in compliance intentions. We also conclude that trust in government has a significant influence on both perceived fairness of the tax system and compliance decisions. This study adds to current tax research in two important ways. First, the results suggest that the influence of social norms on tax compliance is largely through internalization as personal norms. Second, to the best of our knowledge this is also the first tax compliance study in which perception of fairness is modeled as a function of trust rather than vice-versa. This research may help taxing authorities develop less costly and more effective strategies for increasing taxpayer compliance.

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  • Jimenez, Peggy & Iyer, Govind S., 2016. "Tax compliance in a social setting: The influence of social norms, trust in government, and perceived fairness on taxpayer compliance," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 17-26.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:advacc:v:34:y:2016:i:c:p:17-26
    DOI: 10.1016/j.adiac.2016.07.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Sebastian E. Spiegel & Alexandra Kloss, 2017. "Determinants of Tax Fairness Perception and the Role of Self-Interest - Results from Two German Surveys," Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance, Eurasian Publications, vol. 5(4), pages 50-75.
    2. Marius-Răzvan Surugiu & Cristina-Raluca Mazilescu & Camelia Surugiu, 2021. "Analysis of the Tax Compliance in the EU: VECM and SEM," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(17), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Birgit Burböck, 2017. "Legal and Illegal Money Flows: Challenges and Opportunities," Management, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 12(4), pages 299-300.
    4. Meda Andini & Alfa Rahmiati, 2020. "Tax and compliance of individual taxpayer," Post-Print hal-03121022, HAL.
    5. Oliver Nnamdi Okafor, 2023. "Shaming of Tax Evaders: Empirical Evidence on Perceptions of Retributive Justice and Tax Compliance Intentions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(2), pages 377-395, January.
    6. Wiwiek Prihandini, 2018. "The Optimum Level of Tax Compliance Based on Power of Authority and Trust in an Antagonistic Climate," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 362-373.
    7. Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03596480, HAL.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Working Papers hal-03596480, HAL.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Sciences Po publications 89, Sciences Po.
    8. Aktaş Güzel, Sonnur & Özer, Gökhan & Özcan, Murat, 2019. "The effect of the variables of tax justice perception and trust in government on tax compliance: The case of Turkey," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 80-86.
    9. Alessandro Gennaro & Matteo Reho & Tiziana Marinaci & Barbara Cordella & Marco Castiglioni & Cristina Liviana Caldiroli & Claudia Venuleo, 2023. "Social Environment and Attitudes toward COVID-19 Anti-Contagious Measures: An Explorative Study from Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Ioana Alexandra Horodnic & Colin C. Williams & Alexandru Maxim & Iuliana Claudia Stoian & Oana Carmen Țugulea & Adrian V. Horodnic, 2021. "Knowing and Unknowing Purchases of Undeclared Healthcare Goods and Services: The Role of Vertical and Horizontal Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, November.
    11. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/h44c7ona088fb5o9b5dq3nt9u is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Sciences Po publications 89, Sciences Po.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," SciencePo Working papers hal-03596480, HAL.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Working Papers hal-03596480, HAL.
    13. Abidemi C. Adegboye & Ifeoluwa Alao-Owunna & Monday I. Egharevba, 2018. "Smes Business Characteristics, Tax Administration And Tax Compliance By Smes In Nigeria," Oradea Journal of Business and Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 3(Special), pages 7-17, May.
    14. Muhammad Shaukat Malik, Sabah Younus, 2019. "Determinants of Tax-Compliance Behaviour Explored by Slippery Slope Framework and Theory of Planned Behaviour: An Evidence from Small Business Owner," Journal of Management Sciences, Geist Science, Iqra University, Faculty of Business Administration, vol. 6(2), pages 33-47, October.
    15. McCulloch, Neil & Moerenhout, Tom & Yang, Joonseok, 2021. "Fuel subsidy reform and the social contract in Nigeria: A micro-economic analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    16. Huong, Vu Van & Cuong, Ly Kim, 2019. "Does government support promote SME tax payments? New evidence from Vietnam," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    17. Diepstraten, Maaike & van der Cruijsen, Carin, 2019. "To stay or go? Consumer bank switching behaviour after government interventions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 16-33.
    18. I Made Sudarma, 2017. "Does Voluntary Tax Compliance Increase After Granting Tax Amnesty?," GATR Journals afr138, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    19. Ioana Alexandra HORODNIC & Colin C WILLIAMS & Rodica IANOLE-CÄ‚LIN, 2020. "Does higher cash-in-hand income motivate young people to engage in under-declared employment?," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 11, pages 48-69, December.
    20. Muliani Mangngalla' & Alimuddin & Grace T. Pontoh, 2023. "The Influence of Love of Money, Machiavellianism, and Injunctive Norms on Tax Evasion with Religiosity as Moderating Variable," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 1, pages 122-129, March.
    21. Maria Kostritsa & Inken Sittler, 2017. "The Impact of Social Norms, Trust, and Fairness on Voluntary Tax Compliance in Austria," Management, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 12(4), pages 333-353.
    22. Anetta Caplanova & Rudolf Sivak & Estera Szakadatova, 2021. "Institutional Trust and Compliance with Measures to Fight COVID-19," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 27(1), pages 47-60, February.
    23. Eberhartinger, Eva & Safaei, Reyhaneh & Sureth, Caren & Wu, Yuchen, 2021. "Are risk-based tax audit stretegies rewarded? An analysis of corporate tax avoidance," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 267, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.

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