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Correlates of Tax Compliance of Small and Medium Size Businesses in Cameroon

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  • Oludele Akinloye Akinboade

    (Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa)

Abstract

Taxation provides a predictable and stable flow of revenue to finance development objectives. This is important in a country like Cameroon that has serious challenges with meeting its development objectives. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are significant for economic growth in the country, contributing as much as about 22 percent of the gross domestic product. SMEs generate taxable incomes. They also collect employment and value added taxes on behalf of the government. Taxation, however, imposes high cost to small businesses. SMEs are less tax compliant in comparison to large businesses. SMEs are considered the ‘hard to tax group from the informal sector.’ As such, the literature suggests that only a fraction of their taxable incomes is reported to tax authorities. Against this background, factors that correlate with tax compliance of 575 small and medium size companies in Cameroon are discussed from a survey of companies in the manufacturing and wholesale sectors. High registration cost and time-consuming processes promote tax non-compliance. The perception that tax system is corrupt discourages registration and filing compliance. When there are too many compliance hurdles, the probability of filing compliance is reduced. However, a fair and static system encourages filing and registration compliance. A clear and consistent tax system promotes filing compliance. Authorities that understand their responsibilities and are willing to respond to enquiries during the registration process promote tax compliance in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Oludele Akinloye Akinboade, 2015. "Correlates of Tax Compliance of Small and Medium Size Businesses in Cameroon," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 13(4 (Winter), pages 389-413.
    • Handle: RePEc:mgt:youmgt:v:13:y:2015:i:4:p:389-413
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Puspasari, Novita & Herwiyanti, Eliada & Pinasti, Margani & Institute of Research, Asian, 2021. "Barking Up the Wrong Tree: SMEs' Perception of Tax using the ZMET Method," OSF Preprints 8f4kp, Center for Open Science.
    2. James Atta Peprah & Francis Kwaw Andoh & Eric Atsu Avorkpo & Kwabena Nkansah Dafor & Benedict Afful Jr & Camara Kwasi Obeng, 2022. "Compliance Burden and Tax Gap Among Micro and Small Businesses: Evidence From Ghana," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    3. 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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tax compliance; small and medium size enterprises; tax administration; Cameroon;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration

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