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A Cost-Benefit Analysis Methodology for Administrative Prefilling of Value-Added Tax Returns: An Application for Chile

Author

Listed:
  • Glenn P. Jenkins

    (Department of Economics, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Cyprus International University, North Cyprus)

  • Siamand Hesami

    (Department of Finance Bournemouth University, UK, and Cambridge Resources International Inc.)

  • Osaid Alshamleh

    (Vienna University of Economics and Business, Cyprus International University, North Cyprus, and Cambridge Resources International Inc.)

  • Anastasiya Yarygina

    (Inter-American Development Bank (IDB))

  • Carola Pessino

    (Inter-American Development Bank (IDB))

Abstract

Tax administrations (TAs) worldwide have increasingly been moving toward digitalization to increase process efficiency and service delivery. This technical note presents a methodology, and its application for the case of Chile, for evaluating the benefits and costs of a particular component of the TA’s digital transformation: prefilling of value-added tax (VAT) returns. The analysis identifies and allocates the net benefits from both the financial and the economic perspectives considering two major stakeholders: the government and taxpayers. The results show that prefilled VAT returns could benefit TAs and taxpayers, with a reduction in taxpayers’ compliance costs being a primary benefit. The application of the model to the Chilean case shows the economic net present value of the prefilling of VAT returns is US$5.66 billion, with a net benefit to the private sector of US$1.729 billion and a public sector or budgetary impact of US$3.391 billion. Sensitivity analyses show that the results are robust to changes in assumptions, except for the impact on government revenues from the change in taxpayer compliance. Overall, the results show that prefilling tax returns is an effective solution to high taxpayer compliance costs, the associated tax gap, and the risk of burdensome inspections, and tax evasion.

Suggested Citation

  • Glenn P. Jenkins & Siamand Hesami & Osaid Alshamleh & Anastasiya Yarygina & Carola Pessino, 2023. "A Cost-Benefit Analysis Methodology for Administrative Prefilling of Value-Added Tax Returns: An Application for Chile," Development Discussion Papers 2023-10, JDI Executive Programs.
    • Handle: RePEc:qed:dpaper:4609
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mr. Matthieu Bellon & Ms. Era Dabla-Norris & Salma Khalid & Juan Carlos Paliza & Jillie Chang & Pilar Villena, 2022. "Digitalization and Tax Compliance Spillovers: Evidence from a VAT e-Invoicing Reform in Peru," IMF Working Papers 2022/057, International Monetary Fund.
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    3. Bellon, Matthieu & Dabla-Norris, Era & Khalid, Salma & Lima, Frederico, 2022. "Digitalization to improve tax compliance: Evidence from VAT e-Invoicing in Peru," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
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    6. Fochmann, Martin & Müller, Nadja & Overesch, Michael, 2021. "Less cheating? The effects of prefilled forms on compliance behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    7. Christian Gillitzer & Peer Ebbesen Skov, 2018. "The use of third-party information reporting for tax deductions: evidence and implications from charitable deductions in Denmark," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 70(3), pages 892-916.
    8. Martin Fochmann & Frank Hechtner & Tobias Kölle & Michael Overesch, 2021. "Combating overreporting of deductions in tax returns: prefilling and restricting the deductibility of expenditures," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(7), pages 935-964, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Siamand Hesami & Hatice Jenkins & Glenn P. Jenkins, 2024. "Digital Transformation of Tax Administration and Compliance: A Systematic Literature Review on E-Invoicing and Prefilled Returns," Development Discussion Papers 2023-14, JDI Executive Programs.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cost-benefit analysis; tax compliance cost; tax administration; digitalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration

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