Tax Compliance in the New Millennium: Understanding the Variables

Australian Tax Forum, 34(4): 766 – 808, 2019

6 Pages Posted: 10 Apr 2020

See all articles by Dr. Sue Yong

Dr. Sue Yong

Auckland University of Technology

Karen Lo

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Brett Freudenberg

Curtin University - Curtin Law School; Griffith University - Griffith Business School; Griffith University - Griffith Law School

Adrian J. Sawyer

University of Canterbury

Date Written: December 2, 2019

Abstract

Taxpayer compliance is a critical part of any tax system, as without it, the integrity of the tax system can be undermined. Previously, Jackson and Milliron published a comprehensive study reviewing and synthesising the findings of tax compliance studies conducted prior to 1986; highlighting the variables, methodologies and theories. Richardson and Sawyer built upon this research by synthesising the work from 1986 to 1997. In a similar vein, this current research seeks to build upon these two important studies and extend our knowledge by analysing tax compliance studies in terms of ‘variables’ identified from January 1998 to December 2017.

This analysis was facilitated by using text mining software, Leximancer, to visualise the frequency and co-occurrence of concepts and themes related to tax compliance factors. Data was drawn from 713 articles obtained from 15 research databases. Given the size of the data, this article is the first of a series of articles, focussing on the ‘variables’ that have been researched over the 20 year period. Future articles will examine the ‘methodologies’ and ‘theories’ used in the literature over this 20 year period.

Keywords: tax compliance, evasion, morale, compliance cost, Leximancer

JEL Classification: k34, h25, h26,

Suggested Citation

Yong, Sue and Lo, Karen and Freudenberg, Brett and Sawyer, Adrian J, Tax Compliance in the New Millennium: Understanding the Variables (December 2, 2019). Australian Tax Forum, 34(4): 766 – 808, 2019, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3555620

Sue Yong

Auckland University of Technology ( email )

AUT City Campus
Private Bag 92006
Auckland, 1142
New Zealand

Karen Lo

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Brett Freudenberg (Contact Author)

Curtin University - Curtin Law School ( email )

Australia

Griffith University - Griffith Business School ( email )

Brisbane, Queensland 4111
Australia

Griffith University - Griffith Law School ( email )

Nathan Campus, GU
Nathan 4111
Australia

Adrian J Sawyer

University of Canterbury ( email )

Ilam Road
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand

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