Detecting tax evasion in the hospitality and tourism sector

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a meta-analysis of the relationship between determinant factors and tax evasion based on deterrence approach. Using the meta-analysis method, each statistical result of empirical studies is converted into r-pearson as standardized effect size, and then synthesized into a mean effect size in order to increase power and to resolve uncertainty. Theoretically, increasing audit, tax rate and tax penalty will decrease tax evasion. However, the results show that only tax rate has a significant impact on tax evasion. Synthesizing totally 478 outcomes from articles published between 1978 and 2018, there is a robust conclusion that decreasing tax rate is an effective tool in combating tax evasion. On the other hand, audit and penalty are not significant in influencing tax evasion. In addition, the results of heterogeneity analysis suggest that national culture and income level of the country are useful in explaining the impact of audit, tax rate and tax penalty on tax evasion. These findings should be of interest to policymakers. First, instead of sacrificing more resources in conducting audit or imposing more penalty, tax authorities should consider setting the tax rate as low as possible to diminish tax evasion. Second, considering that culture and income level influence the impact of audit and penalty on tax evasion, policymakers should consider national cultural values and income level condition when designing audit techniques and setting penalty structures.

Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) plays an important role in implementing Islamic law in Islamic banks, including fraud prevention. This ungodly act, also known as haram, is highly forbidden in Islam, as evidenced in the holy book of Al Qur’an. Therefore, this study was conducted to provide evidence on the role of SSB attributes (number of members, expertise, cross-membership, educational level, attendance of meeting, tenure) in preventing fraud. This study used 11 Islamic banks in Indonesia as research samples that were observed during 2014–2018. Data were analyzed using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method. The research findings from this study showed that the number of members, cross-membership, education level, attendance of meetings, and SSB tenure were not proven to reduce fraud. SSB’s expertise in accounting/finance had a negative influence on financial statement fraud. The implication of the study is that SSB’s expertise helps banks to effectively carry out their duties, namely detecting financial statement fraud. SSB acts as an independent control mechanism that states that all bank activities are in line with Islamic law and also avoid financial statement fraud.

This study examined how electronic tax system (E- tax system) reduces tax evasion in Nigeria. The survey sample was drawn from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) staff and small and medium-scale enterprise taxpayers registered in F.C.T., Abuja, Nigeria. Primary data was derived from a questionnaire administered to a population of 60 officials and employees of the FIRS and taxpayers at a small and medium-scale enterprise registered in F.C.T., Abuja, Nigeria. The secondary data used was extracted from the tax revenue collection report on the FIRS platform for 2000–2019 (20 years). The conclusive research design was used. General linear model and linear regression were used to analyze the data collected. The E-tax system was measured using actual tax revenues and the level of electronic tax services. In contrast, tax evasion was measured using tax compliance and mind-set of taxpayers towards E-tax system. Taxpayers’ attitudes towards E-tax system, actual tax revenue, tax compliance and the level of electronic tax services were used as mediating and control variables; thus, results established a significant relationship, and this relationship is an adverse one. The work shows that an effective electronic tax system will significantly reduce tax evasion. Therefore, the proper implementation of the electronic tax system helps mitigate the problem of tax evasion that causes economic and social detriments in the tax administration system.