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Tax Amnesties and Tax Revenues

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  • James Alm

    (University of Colorado at Boulder)

  • William Beck

    (U.S. Air Force Academy)

Abstract

This article examines some unexplored and unresolved issues surrounding the Abstract impact of tax amnesties on tax revenues. The results indicate that amnesties can have a positive impact on compliance and tax collections, if the amnesty makes individuals see that paying taxes is the norm and if individuals anticipate a future amnesty that will have a tougher enforcement package than the current regime. However, the results also suggest that amnesties can reduce compliance if the individual jointly chooses the amount of past evasion to report in the amnesty and the amount of current income to declare to the authorities, or if the taxpayer anticipates another future amnesty with lax enforcement. In sum, the overall impact of tax amnesties on tax collections is uncertain.

Suggested Citation

  • James Alm & William Beck, 1990. "Tax Amnesties and Tax Revenues," Public Finance Review, , vol. 18(4), pages 433-453, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:18:y:1990:i:4:p:433-453
    DOI: 10.1177/109114219001800404
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Al-Karablieh, Yazan & Koumanakos, Evangelos & Stantcheva, Stefanie, 2021. "Clearing the bar: Improving tax compliance for small firms through target setting," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    2. James Alm, 1998. "Tax Policy Analysis: The Introduction of a Russian Tax Amnesty," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper9806, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    3. 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.
    4. Lars P. Feld & Bruno S. Frey, 2007. "Tax Evasion, Tax Amnesties and the Psychological Tax Contract," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0729, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    5. Eduardo Engel & James R. Hines Jr., 1998. "Understanding Tax Evasion Dynamics," Documentos de Trabajo 47, Centro de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Chile.
    6. Dominika Langenmayr, 2017. "Voluntary Disclosure of Evaded Taxes—Increasing Revenue, or Increasing Incentives to Evade?," NBER Chapters, in: Personal Income Taxation and Household Behavior (TAPES), National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. L. A. Franzoni, 1996. "Punishment and Grace: on the Economics of Permanent Amnesties," Working Papers 252, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    8. Andrea Angeli & Patrizia Lattarulo & Eugenio Palmieri & Maria Grazia Pazienza, 2023. "Tax evasion and tax amnesties in regional taxation," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(1), pages 343-369, April.
    9. Carla Marchese & Fabio Privileggi, 2004. "Tax Amnesties and the Self-Selection of Risk-Averse Taxpayers," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 319-341, December.
    10. Hari Luitel & Mehmet Tosun, 2014. "A reexamination of state fiscal health and amnesty enactment," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 21(5), pages 874-893, October.
    11. Miguel A. SANCHEZ VILLALBA, 2017. "On the effects of repeated tax amnesties," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 285-301, September.
    12. Javier Moreno & Jaime H. Beltrán & Leovardo Mata, 2019. "Efectos de corto y largo plazo de los programas de condonación de créditos fiscales en la recaudación del Impuesto al Valor Agregado," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 14(1), pages 113-128, Enero-Mar.
    13. E. Bruce Hutchinson & J. R. Clark, 2004. "The Laffer Curve for Amnesty," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 20(Fall 2004), pages 9-29.
    14. Yaniv, Gideon, 1999. "Tax Compliance and Advance Tax Payments: A Prospect Theory Analysis," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association, vol. 52(n. 4), pages 753-64, December.
    15. Christian, Charles W. & Gupta, Sanjay & Young, James C., 2002. "Evidence on Subsequent Filing From the State of Michigan’s Income Tax Amnesty," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 55(4), pages 703-721, December.
    16. Yaniv, Gideon, 1999. "Tax Compliance and Advance Tax Payments: A Prospect Theory Analysis," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 52(4), pages 753-764, December.
    17. Julio López Laborda & Fernando Rodrigo Sauco, "undated". "Incidencia de la amnistía fiscal de 1991 en el cumplimiento a largo plazo en el IRPF," Studies on the Spanish Economy 106, FEDEA.
    18. 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.

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