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The Etiology of Tax Complexity: Evidence from U.S. State Income Tax Systems

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  • Joel Slemrod

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

This article uses the variation in U.S. state income tax systems to examine what engenders tax complexity. An analysis of simple measures of the variation in complexity, based on the number of lines in the tax forms and the number of pages in the instruction booklets, reveals some intriguing patterns. States with more professional legislatures, as measured by the salaries paid, tend to have more complex tax systems, as do states with a less active voting population.

Suggested Citation

  • Joel Slemrod, 2005. "The Etiology of Tax Complexity: Evidence from U.S. State Income Tax Systems," Public Finance Review, , vol. 33(3), pages 279-299, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:33:y:2005:i:3:p:279-299
    DOI: 10.1177/1091142105275003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    11. Berry, William D. & Berkman, Michael B. & Schneiderman, Stuart, 2000. "Legislative Professionalism and Incumbent Reelection: The Development of Institutional Boundaries," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 94(4), pages 859-874, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ash, Elliott & Morelli, Massimo & Vannoni, Matia, 2022. "More Laws, More Growth? Evidence from U.S. States," CEPR Discussion Papers 15629, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Philippe Aghion & Maxime Gravoueille & Matthieu Lequien & Stefanie Stantcheva, 2017. "Tax Simplicity or Simplicity of Evasion? Evidence from Self-Employment Taxes in France," NBER Working Papers 24049, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Castanheira, Micael & Profeta, Paola & Nicodème, Gaëtan, 2011. "On the political economics of tax reforms," CEPR Discussion Papers 8507, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Joel Slemrod, 2010. "Old George Orwell Got It Backward: Some Thoughts on Behavioral Tax Economics," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 66(1), pages 15-33, March.
    5. Hoppe, Thomas & Schanz, Deborah & Sturm, Susann & Sureth-Sloane, Caren, 2017. "What are the drivers of tax complexity for multinational corporations? Evidence from 108 countries," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 223, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    6. Leonzio Rizzo & Alejandro Esteller - Moré & Riccardo Secomandi, 2020. "The role of tax system complexity on foreign direct investment allocation," Working Papers 2020029, University of Ferrara, Department of Economics.
    7. Pham Thai Binh & Trang Thi Thuy Nguyen, 2024. "Do institutions advocate tax simplification? Insights from a panel of 88 countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1-39, June.
    8. Traviss Cassidy & Mark Dincecco & Ugo Troiano, 2015. "Broadening State Capacity," NBER Working Papers 21373, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Hoppe, Thomas & Schanz, Deborah & Sturm, Susann & Sureth, Caren, 2019. "Measuring tax complexity across countries: A survey study on MNCs," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 245, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    10. Hans Bacher & Marius Brülhart, 2013. "Progressive taxes and firm births," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 20(1), pages 129-168, February.
    11. Nima Massarrat-Mashhadi & Christian Sielaff, 2012. "Testing taxpayers' cognitive abilities - Survey-based evidence," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Kavala Campus, Greece, vol. 5(1), pages 7-22, April.

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    Keywords

    income tax; complexity;

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