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Identifying Tax Compliance from Changes in Enforcement: Theory and Empirics

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  • Andrew Bibler

  • Laura Grigolon

  • Keith F. Teltser

  • Mark J. Tremblay

Abstract

Governments increasingly use changes in tax rules to combat evasion. We develop a general approach to point-identify tax compliance along with supply and demand elasticities; identification requires data on prices and quantities before and after changes in tax enforcement and a demand or supply shifter. We illustrate our approach using data on Airbnb collection agreements, where full enforcement is achieved by shifting the tax burden away from hosts to renters via the platform. We find that taxes are paid on roughly zero to 3.5 percent of Airbnb transactions prior to enforcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Bibler & Laura Grigolon & Keith F. Teltser & Mark J. Tremblay, 2024. "Identifying Tax Compliance from Changes in Enforcement: Theory and Empirics," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_505, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2024_505
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. David R. Agrawal & Iuliia Shybalkina, 2024. "Remittance Rules and the Distribution of Local Tax Revenue: Evidence after Wayfair," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 77(4), pages 813-831.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General

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