Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia

This study investigates the extent to which tax literacy, power, and trust strengthen tax attitudes in Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises. To meet this objective, this study analyzes (1) the effect of tax literacy on trust and power, (2) the effect of trust and power on voluntary compli...

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Main Authors: Rosalita Rachma Agusti, Aulia Fuad Rahman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Cogent Business & Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2022.2160585
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author Rosalita Rachma Agusti
Aulia Fuad Rahman
author_facet Rosalita Rachma Agusti
Aulia Fuad Rahman
author_sort Rosalita Rachma Agusti
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the extent to which tax literacy, power, and trust strengthen tax attitudes in Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises. To meet this objective, this study analyzes (1) the effect of tax literacy on trust and power, (2) the effect of trust and power on voluntary compliance and tax avoidance, and (3) the direct and indirect effects of tax literacy on voluntary compliance and tax avoidance through trust and authority. The findings indicate that tax literacy is very important in determining trust and power. Further, trust and tax authority are important to create a synergistic climate that encourages increased voluntary compliance. Despite evidence that trust in tax authorities is likely to reduce tax evasion, the power of tax authorities had no significance in determining tax evasion. In this case, power was present solely because of the tax obligations imposed through tax regulations rather than legitimacy. Additionally, this study found that trust in authority and the power of authority mediate the relationship between tax literacy and voluntary compliance. Hence, it demonstrates that voluntary compliance depends on whether or not trust and power create legitimacy in the view of taxpayers. A stronger perception of trust and power can ultimately increase tax compliance. For SMEs, the role of tax literacy is crucial, as it helps SMEs understand the facilities provided by the government in the form of tax privileges or facilities. This research uncovered the importance of tax knowledge and its benefits for SMEs in terms of understanding their situation regarding tax. Further, SMEs would be better placed to understand the privileges provided by the government if tax administration principles were simplified.
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spelling doaj-art-06783cb7a08d4f7f8c65fd4c0d76ca7a2025-08-20T03:03:21ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Business & Management2331-19752023-12-0110110.1080/23311975.2022.2160585Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from IndonesiaRosalita Rachma Agusti0Aulia Fuad Rahman1Business Administration Department, Brawijaya University, Malang, IndonesiaAccounting Department, Brawijaya University, Malang, IndonesiaThis study investigates the extent to which tax literacy, power, and trust strengthen tax attitudes in Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises. To meet this objective, this study analyzes (1) the effect of tax literacy on trust and power, (2) the effect of trust and power on voluntary compliance and tax avoidance, and (3) the direct and indirect effects of tax literacy on voluntary compliance and tax avoidance through trust and authority. The findings indicate that tax literacy is very important in determining trust and power. Further, trust and tax authority are important to create a synergistic climate that encourages increased voluntary compliance. Despite evidence that trust in tax authorities is likely to reduce tax evasion, the power of tax authorities had no significance in determining tax evasion. In this case, power was present solely because of the tax obligations imposed through tax regulations rather than legitimacy. Additionally, this study found that trust in authority and the power of authority mediate the relationship between tax literacy and voluntary compliance. Hence, it demonstrates that voluntary compliance depends on whether or not trust and power create legitimacy in the view of taxpayers. A stronger perception of trust and power can ultimately increase tax compliance. For SMEs, the role of tax literacy is crucial, as it helps SMEs understand the facilities provided by the government in the form of tax privileges or facilities. This research uncovered the importance of tax knowledge and its benefits for SMEs in terms of understanding their situation regarding tax. Further, SMEs would be better placed to understand the privileges provided by the government if tax administration principles were simplified.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2022.2160585Tax literacyvoluntary compliancetax evasionsmall business taxationtax administration
spellingShingle Rosalita Rachma Agusti
Aulia Fuad Rahman
Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia
Cogent Business & Management
Tax literacy
voluntary compliance
tax evasion
small business taxation
tax administration
title Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia
title_full Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia
title_fullStr Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia
title_short Determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia
title_sort determinants of tax attitude in small and medium enterprises evidence from indonesia
topic Tax literacy
voluntary compliance
tax evasion
small business taxation
tax administration
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2022.2160585
work_keys_str_mv AT rosalitarachmaagusti determinantsoftaxattitudeinsmallandmediumenterprisesevidencefromindonesia
AT auliafuadrahman determinantsoftaxattitudeinsmallandmediumenterprisesevidencefromindonesia