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The Effects of Penalty Information on Tax Compliance: Evidence from a New Zealand Field Experiment

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  • Norman Gemmell
  • Marisa Ratto

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of late payment penalties on tax compliance based on an experiment involving New Zealand goods and service tax (GST) late payers using a late payment model in which the probability of enforcement, rather than detection, is central. A field experiment involving a specific compliance intervention, allows us to examine how taxpayers respond when given different penalty information, examining effects on both taxpayers' stated compliance intentions and subsequently observed behavior. Results suggest that differences in penalty information given to taxpayers and reductions in penalty rates affect compliance stated intentions but actual behavior is generally unresponsive.

Suggested Citation

  • Norman Gemmell & Marisa Ratto, 2018. "The Effects of Penalty Information on Tax Compliance: Evidence from a New Zealand Field Experiment," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 71(3), pages 547-588, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:71:y:2018:i:3:p:547-588
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2018.3.05
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    Cited by:

    1. Dina Pomeranz & José Vila-Belda, 2019. "Taking State-Capacity Research to the Field: Insights from Collaborations with Tax Authorities," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 11(1), pages 755-781, August.
    2. Cinzia Castiglioni & Edoardo Lozza & Eric Dijk & Wilco W. Dijk, 2019. "Two sides of the same coin? An investigation of the effects of frames on tax compliance and charitable giving," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Yogama, Eko Arief & Gray, Daniel J. & Rablen, Matthew D., 2024. "Nudging for prompt tax penalty payment: Evidence from a field experiment in Indonesia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 548-579.
    4. Castro, Juan Francisco & Velásquez, Daniel & Beltrán, Arlette & Yamada, Gustavo, 2020. "Spillovers and Long-Run Effects of Messages on Tax Compliance: Experimental Evidence from Peru," IZA Discussion Papers 13974, IZA Network @ LISER.
    5. Skov, Peer Ebbesen, 2023. "The effect of late payment penalties on the payment timing of owed taxes," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    6. Rebecca Maquiling, 2023. "Factors influencing voluntary tax compliance of self-employed individuals in Davao city," Technium Business and Management, Technium Science, vol. 4(1), pages 39-55.
    7. Qiaochao Yuan & Jun Bai, 2025. "Preventive regulation and corporate tax avoidance: Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 65(1), pages 819-856, March.
    8. Sloboda, Matúš & Pavlovský, Patrik & Sičáková-Beblavá, Emília, 2024. "Simplify and Deter: Nudging waste collection fee debtors," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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