IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijfss/v13y2025i1p14-d1572710.html

Tax Compliance Pattern Analysis: A Survey-Based Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Marius-Răzvan Surugiu

    (Institute of National Economy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Valentina Vasile

    (Institute of National Economy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Camelia Surugiu

    (Faculty of Administration and Business, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania
    National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism, 050741 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Cristina Raluca Mazilescu

    (Institute of National Economy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Mirela-Clementina Panait

    (Institute of National Economy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania
    Faculty of Economic Sciences, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, 100680 Ploiești, Romania)

  • Elena Bunduchi

    (Institute of National Economy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania
    Faculty of Economics and Law, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania)

Abstract

This study investigates tax compliance patterns among individuals in Romania through a survey-based approach, aiming to comprehend factors influencing taxpayers’ behavior, including perception towards taxation, ethics, evasion, and public awareness. The insights garnered can inform policy decisions to enhance compliance rates. Additionally, it contributes to the tax compliance literature by examining unique Romanian context factors. The study delves into taxpayers’ opinions to discern specific views and behaviors within broader societal and economic transformations. A questionnaire was developed and administered online from April to June 2023, with a sample size of 185 respondents. A logistic regression model was constructed using the collected data to analyze the effects on tax compliance. The findings suggest that individuals comply with tax obligations when they perceive their contributions enhance public services and when the tax system aligns with their preferences. Surprisingly, a higher education level correlates with lower tax compliance, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions and educational campaigns. This underscores the necessity for effective communication about the societal benefits of paying taxes. Policymakers should tailor awareness campaigns to inform higher-educated individuals about the significance of tax compliance and its impact on public goods. This ensures a more informed populace and promotes voluntary compliance with tax regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Marius-Răzvan Surugiu & Valentina Vasile & Camelia Surugiu & Cristina Raluca Mazilescu & Mirela-Clementina Panait & Elena Bunduchi, 2025. "Tax Compliance Pattern Analysis: A Survey-Based Approach," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:13:y:2025:i:1:p:14-:d:1572710
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/14/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/14/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Erstu Tarko Kassa, 2021. "Factors influencing taxpayers to engage in tax evasion: evidence from Woldia City administration micro, small, and large enterprise taxpayers," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Anton A Setyawan & Muzakar Isa & Farid Wajdi & Syamsudin, 2017. "Disaster as Business Risk in SME: An Exploratory Study," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 6(6), pages 52-63, October.
    3. Radhi Al-Hamadeen & Malek Alsharairi & Violet Salameh & Ghazal Jabali & Dania Abdallah & Lina Khalil, 2024. "Tax Compliance and Satisfaction: The Role of e-Tax System from the Perspective of Stakeholders," Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, in: David Procházka (ed.), Financial Markets and Corporate Reporting under Geopolitical Risks, chapter 0, pages 129-146, Springer.
    4. Fochmann, Martin & Müller, Nadja & Overesch, Michael, 2021. "Less cheating? The effects of prefilled forms on compliance behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    5. Kirchler,Erich, 2007. "The Economic Psychology of Tax Behaviour," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521876742, Enero-Abr.
    6. James Alm, 2019. "What Motivates Tax Compliance?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 353-388, April.
    7. Kemme, David M. & Parikh, Bhavik & Steigner, Tanja, 2020. "Tax Morale and International Tax Evasion," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(3).
    8. Laura Sour, 2004. "An Economic Model of Tax Compliance with Individual Morality and Group Conformity," Economía Mexicana NUEVA ÉPOCA, CIDE, División de Economía, vol. 0(1), pages 43-61, January-J.
    9. Siamand Hesami & Hatice Jenkins & Glenn P. Jenkins, 2024. "Digital Transformation of Tax Administration and Compliance: A Systematic Literature Review on E-Invoicing and Prefilled Returns," Development Discussion Papers 2023-14, JDI Executive Programs.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:11:p:5841-5852 is not listed on IDEAS

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. James Alm & Lilith Burgstaller & Arrita Domi & Amanda März & Matthias Kasper, 2023. "Nudges, Boosts, and Sludge: Using New Behavioral Approaches to Improve Tax Compliance," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Ho Fai Chan & Uwe Dulleck & Jonas Fooken & Naomi Moy & Benno Torgler, 2023. "Cash and the Hidden Economy: Experimental Evidence on Fighting Tax Evasion in Small Business Transactions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(1), pages 89-114, June.
    3. Colin C. Williams, 2023. "A Modern Guide to the Informal Economy," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 18668, June.
    4. James Alm & James C. Cox & Vjollca Sadiraj, 2020. "Audit State Dependent Taxpayer Compliance: Theory And Evidence From Colombia," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(2), pages 819-833, April.
    5. James Alm & Antoine Malézieux, 2021. "40 years of tax evasion games: a meta-analysis," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 24(3), pages 699-750, September.
    6. Vanina Adoriana Trifan & Silviu Gabriel Szentesi & Lavinia Denisia Cuc & Mioara Florina Pantea, 2023. "Assessing Tax Compliance Behavior Among Romanian Taxpayers: An Empirical Case Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    7. Deparade, Darius & Jarmolinski, Lennart & Mohr, Peter, 2025. "Behavioral interventions, tax compliance and consequences on inequality," Discussion Papers 2025/4, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    8. Diana Falsetta & Brian C. Spilker, 2026. "Psychological Reactance Theory and Tax Evasion Intentions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 203(3), pages 593-610, January.
    9. Müller, Martin & Olsen, Jerome & Kirchler, Erich & Kogler, Christoph, 2023. "How explicit expected value information affects tax compliance decisions and information acquisition," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. James Alm & Laura Rosales Cifuentes & Carlos Mauricio Ortiz Niño & Diana Rocha, 2019. "Can Behavioral “Nudges” Improve Compliance? The Case of Colombia Social Protection Contributions," Games, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-23, October.
    11. James Alm & Peter Gerbrands & Erich Kirchler, 2022. "Using “responsive regulation” to reduce tax base erosion," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), pages 738-759, July.
    12. Bruns, Christoffer & Fochmann, Martin & Mohr, Peter N.C. & Torgler, Benno, 2025. "Multidimensional tax compliance attitude," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    13. Zelda van der Walt & Marina Bornman & Grietjie Verhoef, 2025. "A Substantive Theory Explaining Namibian Employers’ Tax Compliance Behaviour towards Employee Taxes," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 12(3), pages 151-166, March.
    14. Gonzalo E. Sánchez, 2022. "Non-compliance notifications and taxpayer strategic behavior: evidence from Ecuador," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(3), pages 627-666, June.
    15. Fochmann, Martin & Hechtner, Frank & Kirchler, Erich & Mohr, Peter N.C., 2025. "When happy people make society unhappy: Emotions affect tax compliance behavior," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    16. Benno Torgler, 2021. "The Power of Public Choice in Law and Economics," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-04, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    17. James Alm & William D. Schulze & Carrie von Bose & Jubo Yan, 2019. "Appeals to Social Norms and Taxpayer Compliance," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 86(2), pages 638-666, October.
    18. Benno Torgler, 2021. "Behavioral Taxation: Opportunities and Challenges," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-25, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    19. Bernasconi, Michele & Bernhofer, Juliana, 2020. "Catch Me If You Can: Testing the reduction of compound lotteries axiom in a tax compliance experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    20. Martinangeli, Andrea F.M. & Windsteiger, Lisa, 2024. "Inequality shapes the propagation of unethical behaviours: Cheating responses to tax evasion along the income distribution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 135-181.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:13:y:2025:i:1:p:14-:d:1572710. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.