Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review

ObjectiveBlockchain finds application in the public sector, notably in the tax system. The extant literature points to the benefits of employing blockchain in the tax system. A review of studies provides a general view of why and how to implement blockchain technology as well as the identification o...

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Main Authors: Vahideh Ghanooni Shishavan, Shaban Elahi, Sadegh Dorri Nogoorani, Ali Yazdian Varjani
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: University of Tehran 2024-06-01
Series:تحقیقات مالی
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Online Access:https://jfr.ut.ac.ir/article_98025_d6c99e0ff68c60af14e9321489bf0b18.pdf
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author Vahideh Ghanooni Shishavan
Shaban Elahi
Sadegh Dorri Nogoorani
Ali Yazdian Varjani
author_facet Vahideh Ghanooni Shishavan
Shaban Elahi
Sadegh Dorri Nogoorani
Ali Yazdian Varjani
author_sort Vahideh Ghanooni Shishavan
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveBlockchain finds application in the public sector, notably in the tax system. The extant literature points to the benefits of employing blockchain in the tax system. A review of studies provides a general view of why and how to implement blockchain technology as well as the identification of existing defects to solve it. In this paper, we investigate how to implement blockchain technology in the value-added tax (VAT) system and answer three questions through a systematic literature review: (1) what are the characteristics of blockchain that can help in the VAT system; (2) what is the appropriate blockchain framework for the VAT system; and (3) what are the appropriate solutions to protect privacy in a blockchain-based VAT system. MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review following the guidelines proposed by Okoli and Prisma flow diagrams. The screening process was carried out in three stages to ensure that each article fits the research questions. The first article in this field was published in 2017, and the number of articles has risen significantly since then.ResultsThe increasing number of papers reflects the growing interest in implementing blockchain technology. Statistical charts indicate that approximately 60% of the documents are conference papers. Our systematic literature review revealed that blockchain technology can play a crucial role in enhancing the VAT system, particularly in the electronic invoicing process. By identifying existing challenges in electronic invoices, such as transaction forgery, the long process of issuing electronic invoices, and hacking of the central database, blockchain technology, with its features like decentralization, tamper-proofness, transparency, and automation, emerges as a suitable solution. We propose a blockchain-based architecture and a five-step process that includes: authentication and authorization, sending electronic invoice(s), storing the e-invoice(s) in the blockchain, reviewing and verifying the e-invoice(s), and last but not least, payment of VAT. For the security and privacy of taxpayers, we propose the use of a private blockchain, opting for a permissioned blockchain to ensure that only trusted users are part of the network. Network users can include companies, banks, tax authorities, and auditors. In the third and fifth steps, the utilization of smart contracts is recommended. Smart contracts play a role in documenting taxes in the third step. Furthermore, in this stage, leveraging off-chain storage is possible, where the data hash is stored in the blockchain, and the original data is kept separately. In the fifth step, a smart contract can periodically calculate VAT to be deducted from the payers' accounts by banks. Encryption alone cannot guarantee the privacy of electronic invoices, and while zero-knowledge proofs seem to be a suitable solution, they come with considerable complexities. ConclusionAccording to the inherent characteristics of the blockchain, it can be concluded that a blockchain is a suitable option for the VAT system and the right architecture is a permissioned private blockchain. However, further study is required to address privacy concerns.
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spelling doaj-art-d48f7d531cd049ae9873a16ae04b0e3a2025-02-11T14:02:49ZfasUniversity of Tehranتحقیقات مالی1024-81532423-53772024-06-0126222624710.22059/frj.2023.353580.100743298025Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic ReviewVahideh Ghanooni Shishavan0Shaban Elahi1Sadegh Dorri Nogoorani2Ali Yazdian Varjani3Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Information Technology Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.Prof., Department of Management, Prof., Faculty of Administrative Science and Economics, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Kerman, Iran.Assistant Prof., Department of Computer System Architecture, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.Associate Prof., Department of Power, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.ObjectiveBlockchain finds application in the public sector, notably in the tax system. The extant literature points to the benefits of employing blockchain in the tax system. A review of studies provides a general view of why and how to implement blockchain technology as well as the identification of existing defects to solve it. In this paper, we investigate how to implement blockchain technology in the value-added tax (VAT) system and answer three questions through a systematic literature review: (1) what are the characteristics of blockchain that can help in the VAT system; (2) what is the appropriate blockchain framework for the VAT system; and (3) what are the appropriate solutions to protect privacy in a blockchain-based VAT system. MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review following the guidelines proposed by Okoli and Prisma flow diagrams. The screening process was carried out in three stages to ensure that each article fits the research questions. The first article in this field was published in 2017, and the number of articles has risen significantly since then.ResultsThe increasing number of papers reflects the growing interest in implementing blockchain technology. Statistical charts indicate that approximately 60% of the documents are conference papers. Our systematic literature review revealed that blockchain technology can play a crucial role in enhancing the VAT system, particularly in the electronic invoicing process. By identifying existing challenges in electronic invoices, such as transaction forgery, the long process of issuing electronic invoices, and hacking of the central database, blockchain technology, with its features like decentralization, tamper-proofness, transparency, and automation, emerges as a suitable solution. We propose a blockchain-based architecture and a five-step process that includes: authentication and authorization, sending electronic invoice(s), storing the e-invoice(s) in the blockchain, reviewing and verifying the e-invoice(s), and last but not least, payment of VAT. For the security and privacy of taxpayers, we propose the use of a private blockchain, opting for a permissioned blockchain to ensure that only trusted users are part of the network. Network users can include companies, banks, tax authorities, and auditors. In the third and fifth steps, the utilization of smart contracts is recommended. Smart contracts play a role in documenting taxes in the third step. Furthermore, in this stage, leveraging off-chain storage is possible, where the data hash is stored in the blockchain, and the original data is kept separately. In the fifth step, a smart contract can periodically calculate VAT to be deducted from the payers' accounts by banks. Encryption alone cannot guarantee the privacy of electronic invoices, and while zero-knowledge proofs seem to be a suitable solution, they come with considerable complexities. ConclusionAccording to the inherent characteristics of the blockchain, it can be concluded that a blockchain is a suitable option for the VAT system and the right architecture is a permissioned private blockchain. However, further study is required to address privacy concerns.https://jfr.ut.ac.ir/article_98025_d6c99e0ff68c60af14e9321489bf0b18.pdfblockchainsystematic literature reviewvalue-added tax system
spellingShingle Vahideh Ghanooni Shishavan
Shaban Elahi
Sadegh Dorri Nogoorani
Ali Yazdian Varjani
Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review
تحقیقات مالی
blockchain
systematic literature review
value-added tax system
title Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review
title_full Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review
title_short Blockchain-Based Value-Added Tax System: A Systematic Review
title_sort blockchain based value added tax system a systematic review
topic blockchain
systematic literature review
value-added tax system
url https://jfr.ut.ac.ir/article_98025_d6c99e0ff68c60af14e9321489bf0b18.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT vahidehghanoonishishavan blockchainbasedvalueaddedtaxsystemasystematicreview
AT shabanelahi blockchainbasedvalueaddedtaxsystemasystematicreview
AT sadeghdorrinogoorani blockchainbasedvalueaddedtaxsystemasystematicreview
AT aliyazdianvarjani blockchainbasedvalueaddedtaxsystemasystematicreview