Pushing the Wrong Buttons: VAT Evasion by Misclassification of Meal Consumption Type

Abstract

We use rich, micro-level tax return data for the entire population of small and mediumsized German restaurants and find empirical evidence that these firms employ the misclassification of meal consumption type as a VAT evasion strategy. Using difference-in-differences as well as triple-difference-in-differences specifications, we find that a ceteris paribus increase in the standard VAT rate significantly increases the declared sales volume of take-away consumption (reduced rate) relative to on-site consumption (standard rate), even though gross prices are customarily identical for both consumption types.

Keywords: value-added tax, tax evasion, tax base shifting, small and medium-sized enterprises

JEL Classification: H26, H25, H32, L83