Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/149273 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 6186
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
The ability of a tax authority to successfully collect taxes depends critically on both its relationship with the taxpayers and how strongly these taxpayers are committed to contributing to the common good. We present evidence on a new non-intrusive approach aimed at fostering the commitment to pay taxes. Using a between-subject design in a unique field setting, we experimentally test whether tax compliance can be increased by linking a voluntary promise of timely payment to a reward. We measure the change induced by an additional compliance promise through identifying the pure reward effect. We find that although previously compliant taxpayers are more likely to make a promise, the commitment to do so can improve payment behaviour. This effect, however, is strongly dependent on the type of reward to which the promise is linked. Compliance only increases when the reward is non-financial. No compliance effect is observed if cash is offered in return for promise fulfilment.
Subjects: 
tax compliance
field experiment
commitment
promise
supportive incentives
psychological contract
JEL: 
H26
C93
A13
D03
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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