IMF Working Papers

Corruption, Taxes and Compliance

By Anja Baum, Sanjeev Gupta, Elijah Kimani, Sampawende J Tapsoba

November 17, 2017

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Anja Baum, Sanjeev Gupta, Elijah Kimani, and Sampawende J Tapsoba. Corruption, Taxes and Compliance, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2017) accessed September 18, 2024

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Summary

This paper revisits the effects of corruption on the state’s capacity to raise revenue, building on the existing empirical literature using new and more disaggregated data. We use a comprehensive dataset for 147 countries spanning 1995-2014, compiled by the IMF. It finds that—consistent with the existing literature—corruption is negatively associated with overall tax revenue, and most of its components. This relationship is predominantly influenced by the way corruption interacts with tax compliance. The establishment of large taxpayer offices improves tax compliance by dampening the perception of corruption, thereby boosting revenue.

Subject: Corruption, Large taxpayer office, Revenue administration, Social security contributions, Taxes on trade

Keywords: GDP, Revenue, Tax, Tax revenue, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    31

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

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  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2017/255

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2017255

  • ISBN:

    9781484326039

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941