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Tax Administration versus Tax Rates: Evidence from Corporate Taxation in Indonesia

Author

Listed:
  • M. Chatib Basri
  • Mayara Felix
  • Rema Hanna
  • Benjamin A. Olken

Abstract

We compare two approaches to increasing tax revenue: tax administration and tax rates. We show that when Indonesia moved top regional firms into "medium taxpayer offices," with high staff-to-taxpayer ratios, tax revenue more than doubled. Examining nonlinear changes to corporate income tax rates, we estimate an elasticity of taxable income of 0.579. Combining these estimates, improved tax administration is equivalent to raising top rates on all firms by 8 percentage points. On net, improved tax administration can have significant returns for developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Chatib Basri & Mayara Felix & Rema Hanna & Benjamin A. Olken, 2021. "Tax Administration versus Tax Rates: Evidence from Corporate Taxation in Indonesia," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(12), pages 3827-3871, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:111:y:2021:i:12:p:3827-71
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20201237
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chan, Ho Fai & Gangl, Katharina & Supriyadi, Mohammad Wangsit & Torgler, Benno, 2023. "The effects of increased monitoring on high wealth individuals: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in Indonesia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 244-267.
    2. Garbinti, Bertrand & Goupille-Lebret, Jonathan & Munoz, Mathilde & Stantcheva, Stefanie & Zucman, Gabriel, 2023. "Tax Design, Information, and Elasticities: Evidence From the French Wealth Tax," CEPR Discussion Papers 18206, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Vid Adrison, 2024. "Fiscal Sustainability in Indonesia: Policies and Progress," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 19(2), pages 224-247, July.
    4. Garriga, Pablo & Tortarolo, Dario, 2024. "Firms as tax collectors," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    5. Apeti, Ablam Estel & Edoh, Eyah Denise, 2023. "Tax revenue and mobile money in developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Milosavljević, Miloš & Radovanović, Sandro & Delibašić, Boris, 2023. "What drives the performance of tax administrations? Evidence from selected european countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. Sebastián Bustos & Dina Pomeranz & Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato & José Vila-Belda & Gabriel Zucman, 2022. "The Race Between Tax Enforcement and Tax Planning: Evidence From a Natural Experiment in Chile," NBER Working Papers 30114, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Deng, Guoying & Du, Pengcheng & Hernandez, Manuel A. & Xu, Shu, 2024. "Corporate taxes and labor market informality evidence from China," IFPRI discussion papers 2244, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Dalia Ghanem & D'esir'e K'edagni & Ismael Mourifi'e, 2023. "Evaluating the Impact of Regulatory Policies on Social Welfare in Difference-in-Difference Settings," Papers 2306.04494, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2023.
    10. M. Chatib Basri, 2024. "Comment on “Fiscal Sustainability in Indonesia: Policies and Progress”," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 19(2), pages 250-251, July.
    11. Naruki Notsu & Haruaki Hirota & Nobuo Akai, 2024. "Inter-municipal cooperation and tax enforcement capabilities," OSIPP Discussion Paper 24E004, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    12. Yu, Jian & Peng, Fanjia & Shi, Xunpeng & Yang, Longjian, 2022. "Impact of credit guarantee on firm performance: Evidence from China’s SMEs," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 624-636.
    13. Peng, Fei & Zhou, Shibiao & Zhou, Peng, 2023. "Local government fiscal stress and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1677-1695.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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