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VAT compliance, trade, and institutions

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  • Morrow, Peter
  • Smart, Michael
  • Swistak, Artur

Abstract

We develop a simple model of value added tax (VAT) compliance, and estimate it using widely available national accounts data to learn about compliance in countries where little is currently known. International border controls improve VAT compliance, generating a correlation between imports and aggregate VAT revenues that is informative about domestic non-compliance. We estimate nearly 30 percent of domestic value added escapes taxation through non-compliance for the average country in our sample, with much higher levels of non-compliance in countries with low perceived institutional quality. We analyze how our estimates are related to institutional differences among countries, and discuss the implications for tax policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Morrow, Peter & Smart, Michael & Swistak, Artur, 2022. "VAT compliance, trade, and institutions," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:208:y:2022:i:c:s0047272722000366
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104634
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    Cited by:

    1. Bachas, Pierre & Gadenne, Lucie & Jensen, Anders, 2020. "Informality, Consumption Taxes and Redistribution," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1277, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    2. Martin T. Braml & Gabriel J. Felbermayr, 2022. "The EU self-surplus puzzle: an indication of VAT fraud?," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(5), pages 1075-1097, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Value-added tax; Tax compliance; Compliance gap; Tax enforcement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance

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