The influence of tax authorities on the employment of tax practitioners: Empirical evidence from a survey and interview study
- Author(s)
- Jane Frecknall-Hughes, Katharina Gangl, Erico Kirchler, Eva Hofmann, Barbara Hartl
- Abstract
Tax practitioners play a crucial role in the degree of taxpayers’ compliance – a role that has increased as tax systems worldwide have become more complex. However, little is known about tax authorities’ impact on taxpayers’ decisions to employ tax practitioners. Based on earlier research on motivations to employ a tax practitioner and the extended slippery slope framework of tax compliance, we conducted two studies which provide some answers. A survey study – comprising a representative sample of 500 Austrian self-employed taxpayers – revealed that financial gain is not the most important reason to employ a tax practitioner but instead the motivation to avoid problems with the tax authorities. Related to that, we also find that taxpayers’ perception of tax authorities wielding coercive power motivates them to employ tax practitioners. In the interview study with 33 self-employed taxpayers and 30 tax auditors, taxpayers indicated that they sought to avoid contact with tax officers by employing tax practitioners. This finding was supported by tax officers who reported preferring interaction with tax practitioners over direct contact with taxpayers. The two studies point to the complex relationship between taxpayers, tax authorities and tax practitioners, and allow the drawing of theoretical and practical implications.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Occupational, Economic and Social Psychology
- External organisation(s)
- Open University, Nottingham Trent University, IHS - Institut für Höhere Studien und wissenschaftliche Forschung, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU)
- Journal
- Journal of Economic Psychology
- Volume
- 97
- ISSN
- 0167-4870
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2023.102629
- Publication date
- 08-2023
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 501029 Economic psychology
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics and Econometrics, Sociology and Political Science, Applied Psychology
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/the-influence-of-tax-authorities-on-the-employment-of-tax-practitioners-empirical-evidence-from-a-survey-and-interview-study(d5a29ef6-2605-4c61-a3e6-05b1d8fa37a3).html