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Property Tax Compliance in Tanzania: Can Nudges Help?

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Collin

    (World Bank)

  • Vincenzo Di Maro

    (World Bank)

  • David K. Evans

    (Center for Global Development)

  • Fredrick Manang

    (University of Dodoma)

Abstract

Low tax compliance in low- and middle-income countries around the world limits the ability of governments to offer effective public services. This paper reports the results of a randomly rolled out text message campaign aimed at promoting tax compliance among landowners in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Landowners were randomly assigned to one of four groups designed to test different aspects of tax morale. They received a simple text message reminder to pay their tax (a test of salience), a message highlighting the connection between taxes and public services (reciprocity), a message communicating that people who did not pay were not contributing to local or national development (social pressure), or no message (control). Recipients of any message were 18 percent (or 2 percentage points) more likely to pay any property tax by the end of the study period. Each type of message resulted in gains in payment rates, although social pressure messages delivered the lowest gains. Total payment amounts were highest for those who received reciprocity messages. Nudges were most effective in areas with lower initial rates of tax compliance. The average estimated benefit-cost ratio across treatments is 36:1 due to the low cost of the intervention, with higher cost-effectiveness for reciprocity messages.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Collin & Vincenzo Di Maro & David K. Evans & Fredrick Manang, 2022. "Property Tax Compliance in Tanzania: Can Nudges Help?," Working Papers 621, Center for Global Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:621
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    Cited by:

    1. Iddrisu, Khadijah & Adu, Kofi Osei, 2020. "Property Tax Compliance in Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District in the Central Region of Ghana: Does Distance to Nearest Tax Office Matter?," MPRA Paper 121159, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2024.
    2. 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.
    3. Dong, Sarah & Satyadini, Agung & Sinning, Mathias, 2025. "Location Matters: Insights from a Natural Field Experiment to Enhance Small Business Tax Compliance in Indonesia," IZA Discussion Papers 18108, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Samiji, Ally A. & Chegere, Martin J. & Ruhinduka, Remidius D., 2023. "The Effect of Carrot and Stick Measures in Fostering Taxpayer Compliance in Tanzania: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 11(5), December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • H13 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Economics of Eminent Domain; Expropriation; Nationalization
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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