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Tax Policy Analysis: The Introduction of a Russian Tax Amnesty

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Abstract

Governments of all kinds have frequently turned to tax amnesties as part of their fiscal programs. An amnesty typically allows individuals or firms to pay previously unpaid taxes without being subject to some or all of the financial and criminal penalties that the discovery of tax evasion normally brings. In the last twenty years, nearly forty states in the United States have enacted some form of tax amnesty, sometimes more than once. Many other countries have also used one or more amnesties. These countries include those in all parts of the world: in Europe (Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland), Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay), Asia (India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), and the Pacific (Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines).Tax amnesties are a controversial revenue tool. The obvious purpose of a tax amnesty is to raise short-run revenue. This may or may not work, and it can bring about expectations of future amnesties thereby reducing taxpayer compliance after the amnesty. This paper discusses basic design features of an amnesty, evaluates the benefits and costs of an amnesty, examines the country experiences of several "typical" amnesties, and presents some conclusions and recommendations for the introduction of a tax amnesty in the Russian Federation.

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  • James Alm, 1998. "Tax Policy Analysis: The Introduction of a Russian Tax Amnesty," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper9806, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper9806
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    1. Herman B. Leonard & Richard J. Zeckhauser, 1987. "Amnesty, Enforcement, and Tax Policy," NBER Chapters, in: Tax Policy and the Economy, Volume 1, pages 55-86, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Muhammad Alishahdani Ibrahim & Rita Myrna & Ira Irawati & J. B. Kristiadi, 2017. "A Systematic Literature Review on Tax Amnesty in 9 Asian Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(3), pages 220-225.
    3. Benno Torgler & Christoph A. Schaltegger & Markus Schaffner, 2003. "Is Forgiveness Divine? A Cross-Culture Comparison of Tax Amnesties," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 139(III), pages 375-396, September.
    4. Miguel A. SANCHEZ VILLALBA, 2017. "On the effects of repeated tax amnesties," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 285-301, September.
    5. Mokhamad Huda & Agus Yudha Hernoko, 2017. "Tax Amnesties in Indonesia and Other Countries: Opportunities and Challenges," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(7), pages 1-52, July.

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