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Determinants of aggregate income-tax-evasion behaviour: the case of US

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  • R.J. CEBULA

    (George Institue of Technology, Atlanta)

Abstract

The determinants of aggregate income-tax-evasion behaviour as reflected in the size of the underground economy in the US are analysed. These factors include the federal personal income tax rate, the social security tax rate, the federal corporation income tax rate, the public's dissatisfaction with the government, IRS audit rates and IRS penalty assessments on detected unreported income. The results show that the size of the underground economy is an increasing function of federal personal income tax rate, the social security tax rate and the public's dissatisfaction with the government. However, the size is a decreasing function of IRS penalty payments on unpaid taxes.

Suggested Citation

  • R.J. Cebula, 1998. "Determinants of aggregate income-tax-evasion behaviour: the case of US," BNL Quarterly Review, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, vol. 51(206), pages 273-290.
    • Handle: RePEc:psl:bnlaqr:1998:33
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    Cited by:

    1. Çule, Monika & Fulton, Murray, 2009. "Business culture and tax evasion: Why corruption and the unofficial economy can persist," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 72(3), pages 811-822, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Research; Underground economy; tax evasion; US economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • E26 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Informal Economy; Underground Economy

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