Tan, Fangfang and Yim, Andrew (2011): Can transparency hurt? An experiment on whether disclosure of audit policy details reduces tax compliance.
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Abstract
Tax authorities around the world often are reluctant to disclose audit policy details. In particular, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the practice of releasing broad statistics like the audit rate of each income class but resists pressures demanding details on how different circumstances might result in a higher audit probability to taxpayers. This paper experimentally examines whether disclosing such details can reduce tax compliance. We compare a Flat-rate treatment, where taxpayers are told about the average audit probability, with a Bounded treatment, where taxpayers are fully informed of the contingent audit probability structure. Our findings do not support the potential concern against disclosing details. In an additional Bounded-hi-q treatment where multiple equilibria exist, the compliance level is even higher under full disclosure of the probability structure.
Item Type: | MPRA Paper |
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Original Title: | Can transparency hurt? An experiment on whether disclosure of audit policy details reduces tax compliance |
Language: | English |
Keywords: | Information disclosure, Government transparency, Audit policy, Tax auditing, Tax compliance, Laboratory experiment |
Subjects: | C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C9 - Design of Experiments M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M4 - Accounting and Auditing > M42 - Auditing C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C7 - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory > C72 - Noncooperative Games H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H26 - Tax Evasion and Avoidance |
Item ID: | 31149 |
Depositing User: | Andrew Yim |
Date Deposited: | 27 May 2011 02:26 |
Last Modified: | 28 Sep 2019 16:52 |
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URI: | https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/31149 |
Available Versions of this Item
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Deterrence Effects of Auditing Rules: An Experimental Study. (deposited 06 Jan 2011 08:07)
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Deterrence Effects of Auditing Rules: An Experimental Study. (deposited 09 Jan 2011 22:07)
- Can transparency hurt? An experiment on whether disclosure of audit policy details reduces tax compliance. (deposited 27 May 2011 02:26) [Currently Displayed]
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Deterrence Effects of Auditing Rules: An Experimental Study. (deposited 09 Jan 2011 22:07)