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Trust in Government and Tax Compliance in Indonesia and Malaysia: Do Ethics and Tax Amnesty Matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Santi Novita

    (Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia)

  • Mienati Somya Lasmana

    (Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia)

  • Nor Azrina Mohd Yusof

    (Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch, Malaysia)

  • Roshidah Safeei

    (Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch, Malaysia)

  • Lee Chai Chuen

    (Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study examines the moderating role of tax amnesty and the mediating role of ethics in the relationship between trust in government and tax compliance among taxpayers in Indonesia and Malaysia. The data were analysed using the structural equation modeling to examine the mediating role of ethics and hierarchical regression analysis to test the moderating role of tax amnesty in the relationship between trust and tax compliance. Based on the sample collection using the purposive sampling method, the study included 529 respondents from Indonesia and 137 from Malaysia. The findings reveal that the relationship between trust in government and taxpayer compliance is statistically significant with ethics as full mediator in Indonesia. However, the relationship between trust in government and tax compliance is not statistically significant in Malaysia. Ethics has a direct effect on tax compliance in both countries. Tax amnesty does not show a moderating effect in the relationship between trust in government and tax compliance. However, it plays a negative predictive role for tax compliance in Indonesia. This study will assist the government in developing tax compliance strategies to increase tax revenue with the launch of a similar program without neglecting the honest taxpayer.

Suggested Citation

  • Santi Novita & Mienati Somya Lasmana & Nor Azrina Mohd Yusof & Roshidah Safeei & Lee Chai Chuen, 2024. "Trust in Government and Tax Compliance in Indonesia and Malaysia: Do Ethics and Tax Amnesty Matter?," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(6), pages 10-22, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ1:2024-06-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ethics; Tax Amnesty; Tax Compliance; Trust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General

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