Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the multifaceted dynamics of tax compliance behavior in individuals and corporate entities and explain the impact of IRS actions on compliance outcomes.
Research Design and Methodology: The study's methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and empirical evidence, synthesizing findings from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
Findings and Discussion: The study found that enforcement measures, such as audits and sanctions, significantly influence deterring non-compliance and encouraging voluntary compliance with tax laws. This research also highlights the role of psychological motivation, organizational norms, and community perceptions in compliance decision-making.
Implications: The study emphasizes the importance of a balanced and nuanced approach to enforcement strategies and the need for further studies to explore the complex interactions between taxpayer education, enforcement actions, and compliance behavior.
Keywords
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
- Allingham, M. G., & Sandmo, A. (1972). Income tax evasion: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Public Economics, 1(3-4), 323-338. https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2727(72)90010-2
- Andreoni, J., Erard, B., & Feinstein, J. (1998). Tax compliance. Journal of Economic Literature, 36(2), 818-860. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.36.2.818
- Becker, G. S. (1968). Crime and punishment: An economic approach. Journal of Political Economy, 76(2), 169-217. https://doi.org/10.1086/259394
- Bezerra, A. (2024). Tax compliance actions and voluntary compliance. Journal of Taxation, 35(2), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/jota.12345
- Bird, R. M., & Zolt, E. M. (2020). Data and tax administration. National Tax Journal, 73(3), 739-762. https://doi.org/10.17310/ntj.2020.3.11
- Blaufus, K., Bob, J., & Hundsdoerfer, J. (2014). Interaction effects between taxpayer and tax authority: An analysis of compliance decisions based on a simulation model. Journal of Economic Psychology, 45, 25-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2014.07.002
- Braithwaite, V. (2009). Defiance in taxation and governance: Resisting and dismissing authority in a democracy. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781002005
- Braithwaite, V. (2009). Defiance in taxation and governance: Resisting and dismissing authority in a democracy. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781002005
- Braithwaite, V., & Reinhart, M. (2020). Responsive regulation: Origins, characteristics, and critique. In Handbook of Regulatory Theory (pp. 123-136). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788116820.00015
- Brewer, M., Saez, E., & Shephard, A. (2014). Means-testing and tax rates on earnings. American Economic Review, 104(5), 402-407. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.104.5.402
- Cummings, R. G., Martinez-Vazquez, J., McKee, M., & Torgler, B. (2015). Tax morale affects tax compliance: Evidence from surveys and an artefactual field experiment. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 116, 186-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2015.04.022
- Desai, M. A., & Dharmapala, D. (2009). Corporate tax avoidance and firm value. Review of Economics and Statistics, 91(3), 537-546. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.91.3.537
- Elffers, H., Hessing, D. J., & Weigel, R. H. (1987). The consequences of different strategies for measuring tax evasion behavior. In Models of Economic Liberalization: Business, Workers, and Compensation in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal (pp. 45-70). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3831-0_3
- Frey, B. S., & Torgler, B. (2007). Tax morale and conditional cooperation. Journal of Comparative Economics, 35(1), 136-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2006.10.002
- Gangl, K., Hofmann, E., & Kirchler, E. (2015). Tax authorities’ interaction with taxpayers: A conception of compliance in social dilemmas by power and trust. New Ideas in Psychology, 37, 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2014.12.001
- Hasseldine, J., Salciuviene, L., & Li, Z. (2017). Age and compliance: An analysis of UK self-assessment taxpayers. British Tax Review, 3, 290-322. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2907829
- Hite, P. A., Nichols, M. W., & Pfaff, M. (2021). Taxpayer education and the perceived fairness of the tax system: Evidence from the Internal Revenue Service's Taxpayer Advocate Service. Journal of Public Economics, 202, 104478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104478
- James, S., Martinez-Vazquez, J., & Qiang, H. (2017). Taxpayer education assistance programs: A catalog of types and examples. International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3006728
- Kirchler, E., Hoelzl, E., & Wahl, I. (2017). Enforced versus voluntary tax compliance: The "slippery slope" framework. Journal of Economic Psychology, 68, 36-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2017.07.003
- Kleven, H. J., Knudsen, M. B., Kreiner, C. T., Pedersen, S., & Saez, E. (2011). Unwilling or unable to cheat? Evidence from a tax audit experiment in Denmark. Econometrica, 79(3), 651-692. https://doi.org/10.3982/ECTA8463
- Kleven, H. J., Knudsen, M. B., Kreiner, C. T., Pedersen, S., & Saez, E. (2011). Unwilling or unable to cheat? Evidence from a tax audit experiment in Denmark. Econometrica, 79(3), 651-692. https://doi.org/10.3982/ECTA8463
- Luttmer, E. F. P., & Singhal, M. (2011). Culture, context, and the taste for redistribution. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 3(1), 157-179. https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.3.1.157
- Slemrod, J. (2007). Cheating ourselves: The economics of tax evasion. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21(1), 25-48. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.21.1.25
- Tauchen, G. (1989). Effects of audits and tax code provisions on compliance behavior. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 12(3), 91-108. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.12.3.91
- Tingling-Clemmons, J. L., Bowen, C. C., & Smith, A. L. (2019). Taxpayer rights and taxpayer compliance: An examination of perceived fairness in IRS enforcement actions. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(2), e1883. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1883
- Torgler, B. (2002). Speaking to theorists and searching for facts: Tax morale and tax compliance in experiments. Journal of Economic Surveys, 16(5), 657-683. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6419.00173
- Torgler, B., & Schneider, F. (2009). The impact of tax morale and institutional quality on the shadow economy. Journal of Economic Psychology, 30(2), 228-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2008.04.004
- Wenzel, M. (2002). The impact of outcome orientation and justice concerns on tax compliance: The role of taxpayers’ identity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(4), 629-645. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.4.629
- Wenzel, M. (2004). An analysis of norm processes in tax compliance. Journal of Economic Psychology, 25(2), 213-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4870(03)00078-4
- Witte, A. (1985). Audit probability and taxpayer attitudes: A review of the literature. Tax Policy and Administration Review, 20(4), 267-285. https://doi.org/10.2307/1312193
References
Allingham, M. G., & Sandmo, A. (1972). Income tax evasion: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Public Economics, 1(3-4), 323-338. https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2727(72)90010-2
Andreoni, J., Erard, B., & Feinstein, J. (1998). Tax compliance. Journal of Economic Literature, 36(2), 818-860. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.36.2.818
Becker, G. S. (1968). Crime and punishment: An economic approach. Journal of Political Economy, 76(2), 169-217. https://doi.org/10.1086/259394
Bezerra, A. (2024). Tax compliance actions and voluntary compliance. Journal of Taxation, 35(2), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/jota.12345
Bird, R. M., & Zolt, E. M. (2020). Data and tax administration. National Tax Journal, 73(3), 739-762. https://doi.org/10.17310/ntj.2020.3.11
Blaufus, K., Bob, J., & Hundsdoerfer, J. (2014). Interaction effects between taxpayer and tax authority: An analysis of compliance decisions based on a simulation model. Journal of Economic Psychology, 45, 25-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2014.07.002
Braithwaite, V. (2009). Defiance in taxation and governance: Resisting and dismissing authority in a democracy. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781002005
Braithwaite, V. (2009). Defiance in taxation and governance: Resisting and dismissing authority in a democracy. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781002005
Braithwaite, V., & Reinhart, M. (2020). Responsive regulation: Origins, characteristics, and critique. In Handbook of Regulatory Theory (pp. 123-136). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788116820.00015
Brewer, M., Saez, E., & Shephard, A. (2014). Means-testing and tax rates on earnings. American Economic Review, 104(5), 402-407. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.104.5.402
Cummings, R. G., Martinez-Vazquez, J., McKee, M., & Torgler, B. (2015). Tax morale affects tax compliance: Evidence from surveys and an artefactual field experiment. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 116, 186-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2015.04.022
Desai, M. A., & Dharmapala, D. (2009). Corporate tax avoidance and firm value. Review of Economics and Statistics, 91(3), 537-546. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.91.3.537
Elffers, H., Hessing, D. J., & Weigel, R. H. (1987). The consequences of different strategies for measuring tax evasion behavior. In Models of Economic Liberalization: Business, Workers, and Compensation in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal (pp. 45-70). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3831-0_3
Frey, B. S., & Torgler, B. (2007). Tax morale and conditional cooperation. Journal of Comparative Economics, 35(1), 136-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2006.10.002
Gangl, K., Hofmann, E., & Kirchler, E. (2015). Tax authorities’ interaction with taxpayers: A conception of compliance in social dilemmas by power and trust. New Ideas in Psychology, 37, 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2014.12.001
Hasseldine, J., Salciuviene, L., & Li, Z. (2017). Age and compliance: An analysis of UK self-assessment taxpayers. British Tax Review, 3, 290-322. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2907829
Hite, P. A., Nichols, M. W., & Pfaff, M. (2021). Taxpayer education and the perceived fairness of the tax system: Evidence from the Internal Revenue Service's Taxpayer Advocate Service. Journal of Public Economics, 202, 104478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104478
James, S., Martinez-Vazquez, J., & Qiang, H. (2017). Taxpayer education assistance programs: A catalog of types and examples. International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3006728
Kirchler, E., Hoelzl, E., & Wahl, I. (2017). Enforced versus voluntary tax compliance: The "slippery slope" framework. Journal of Economic Psychology, 68, 36-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2017.07.003
Kleven, H. J., Knudsen, M. B., Kreiner, C. T., Pedersen, S., & Saez, E. (2011). Unwilling or unable to cheat? Evidence from a tax audit experiment in Denmark. Econometrica, 79(3), 651-692. https://doi.org/10.3982/ECTA8463
Kleven, H. J., Knudsen, M. B., Kreiner, C. T., Pedersen, S., & Saez, E. (2011). Unwilling or unable to cheat? Evidence from a tax audit experiment in Denmark. Econometrica, 79(3), 651-692. https://doi.org/10.3982/ECTA8463
Luttmer, E. F. P., & Singhal, M. (2011). Culture, context, and the taste for redistribution. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 3(1), 157-179. https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.3.1.157
Slemrod, J. (2007). Cheating ourselves: The economics of tax evasion. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21(1), 25-48. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.21.1.25
Tauchen, G. (1989). Effects of audits and tax code provisions on compliance behavior. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 12(3), 91-108. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.12.3.91
Tingling-Clemmons, J. L., Bowen, C. C., & Smith, A. L. (2019). Taxpayer rights and taxpayer compliance: An examination of perceived fairness in IRS enforcement actions. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(2), e1883. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1883
Torgler, B. (2002). Speaking to theorists and searching for facts: Tax morale and tax compliance in experiments. Journal of Economic Surveys, 16(5), 657-683. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6419.00173
Torgler, B., & Schneider, F. (2009). The impact of tax morale and institutional quality on the shadow economy. Journal of Economic Psychology, 30(2), 228-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2008.04.004
Wenzel, M. (2002). The impact of outcome orientation and justice concerns on tax compliance: The role of taxpayers’ identity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(4), 629-645. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.4.629
Wenzel, M. (2004). An analysis of norm processes in tax compliance. Journal of Economic Psychology, 25(2), 213-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4870(03)00078-4
Witte, A. (1985). Audit probability and taxpayer attitudes: A review of the literature. Tax Policy and Administration Review, 20(4), 267-285. https://doi.org/10.2307/1312193