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Finding out Who the Crooks Are – Tax Evasion with Sequential Auditing

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  • Ralph-C Bayer

    (School of Economics, University of Adelaide)

Abstract

This paper investigates multi-item moral hazard with auditing contests. Although the presented model is widely applicable, we choose tax evasion as an exemplary application. We introduce a tax-evasion model where tax authority and taxpayer invest in detection and concealment. The taxpayers have multiple potential income sources and are heterogeneous with respect to their evasion scruples. The tax authority - unable to commit to an audit strategy - observes a tax declaration and chooses its auditing efforts. We show that a tax inspector prefers to audit source by source until he finds evidence for evasion to conduct a full-scale audit thereafter.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralph-C Bayer, 2003. "Finding out Who the Crooks Are – Tax Evasion with Sequential Auditing," School of Economics and Public Policy Working Papers 2003-07, University of Adelaide, School of Economics and Public Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:adl:wpaper:2003-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Amitrajeet A. Batabyal & Hamid Beladi, 2010. "A Theoretical Analysis of Income Tax Evasion, Optimal Auditing, and Credibility in Developing Countries," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 22(1), pages 123-133, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tax evasion; auditing rules; contest; moral hazard;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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