Tax Collection Challenges and Strategic Approaches to Enhancing Taxpayer Awareness
Keywords:
Tax collection, Taxpayer awareness, Tax compliance, Institutional legitimacy, GovernanceAbstract
Purpose – This paper aims to reconceptualise the general state of tax collection dilemmas. It also aims to reconceptualise taxpayers' consciousness. It does this by understanding how and why current compliance measures often fail in the long run. The study looks at how administrative efficiency and taxpayer compliance are connected.
Design/methodology/approach – Contemporary research on tax compliance and taxpayer knowledge is characterised and synthesised through a qualitative systematic literature review with thematic content analysis.
Findings – The analysis reveals that the challenges associated with tax collection stem from more than just technical aspects. They are also influenced by factors such as fairness, trust, and the quality of governance. Taxpayer awareness is a multidimensional feature driven by behavioural and social dynamics in addition to information. The findings indicate that certain policy measures, such as isolated prevention, education or reforms, may only achieve limited and short-term effectiveness. When designed alongside administrative design, behavioural insights and institutional legitimacy, compliance is more robust.
Originality/value – The paper originality lies in its development of a multidimensional concept, integrating administrative, behavioural and institutional perspectives. The research combines existing theories of compliance with recent empirical discoveries. It does this in order to describe durable contradictions in earlier tax research. It also raises issues with one-sided solutions to tax reform.
Research Implications – The framework is intended to serve as a platform for empirical studies. It is also intended to support putative practices. These practices focus on legitimacy, engagement, and enduring compliance.
Downloads
References
Ajzen, I. (2020). The theory of planned behavior: Frequently asked questions. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(4), 314–324. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.195 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.195
Alahdal, W. M., Abidin, A. F. Z., Sahu, M., Alamoudi, M. A., & Hashim, H. A. (2025). Exploring the Moderating Effect of Regulatory Quality on the Relationship Between ESG Performance and SDGs Disclosure: Evidence From OECD Countries. Sustainable Development, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70061 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70061
Allingham, M. G., & Sandmo, A. (1972). Income tax evasion: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Public Economics, 1(3–4), 323–338. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2727(72)90010-2
Alm, J., Blaufus, K., Fochmann, M., Kirchler, E., Mohr, P. N. C., Olson, N. E., & Torgler, B. (2020). Tax Policy Measures to Combat the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Considerations to Improve Tax Compliance: A Behavioral Perspective. FinanzArchiv / Public Finance Analysis, 76(4), 396–428. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1628/fa-2020-0014
Alm, J., & Torgler, B. (2011). Do Ethics Matter? Tax Compliance and Morality. Journal of Business Ethics, 101(4), 635–651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0761-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0761-9
Azémar, C., & Dharmapala, D. (2019). Tax sparing agreements, territorial tax reforms, and foreign direct investment. Journal of Public Economics, 169, 89–108. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.10.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.10.013
Batrancea, L., Nichita, A., Olsen, J., Kogler, C., Kirchler, E., Hoelzl, E., Weiss, A., Torgler, B., Fooken, J., Fuller, J., Schaffner, M., Banuri, S., Hassanein, M., Alarcón-García, G., Aldemir, C., Apostol, O., Bank Weinberg, D., Batrancea, I., Belianin, A., … Zukauskas, S. (2019). Trust and power as determinants of tax compliance across 44 nations. Journal of Economic Psychology, 74, 102191. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2019.102191 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2019.102191
Beer, O. W. J., McInroy, L. B., Hefner, J., & Beer, S. E. (2025). Examining the feasibility and acceptability of an online mindfulness-based stress reduction program for frontline child protection social workers in England. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 19(1), 190–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2312838 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2312838
Bobek, D. D., Hatfield, R. C., & Wentzel, K. (2007). An Investigation of Why Taxpayers Prefer Refunds: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach. Journal of the American Taxation Association, 29(1), 93–111. https://doi.org/10.2308/jata.2007.29.1.93 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1521/jata.2007.29.1.93
Burgstaller, L., & Pfeil, K. (2024). You don’t need an invoice, do you? An online experiment on collaborative tax evasion. Journal of Economic Psychology, 101, 102708. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2024.102708 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2024.102708
Castañeda, N. (2024). Fairness and Tax Morale in Developing Countries. Studies in Comparative International Development, 59(1), 113–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-023-09394-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-023-09394-z
Chan, H. F., Gangl, K., Supriyadi, M. W., & Torgler, B. (2023). The effects of increased monitoring on high wealth individuals: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in Indonesia. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 215, 244–267. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2023.09.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2023.09.017
Craft, J. L., & Shannon, K. R. (2024). An examination of the 2012–2022 empirical ethical decision-making literature: A quinary review. Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12676 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12676
Cullis, J. G., & Lewis, A. (1997). Why people pay taxes: From a conventional economic model to a model of social convention. Journal of Economic Psychology, 18(2), 305–321. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4870(97)00010-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4870(97)00010-X
Fonseca Corona, F. J. (2024). Tax morale: a global scoping review from the cultural approach to economics. International Review of Economics, 71(2), 343–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-024-00446-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-024-00446-x
Frecknall-Hughes, J., Gangl, K., Hofmann, E., Hartl, B., & Kirchler, E. (2023). The influence of tax authorities on the employment of tax practitioners: Empirical evidence from a survey and interview study. Journal of Economic Psychology, 97, 102629. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2023.102629 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2023.102629
Gangl, K., van Dijk, W. W., van Dijk, E., & Hofmann, E. (2020). Building versus maintaining a perceived confidence-based tax climate: Experimental evidence. Journal of Economic Psychology, 81, 102310. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2020.102310 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2020.102310
Hlioui, Z., Omri, A., & Moussa, S. (2025). Tax evasion and innovation under credit constraints: evidence from Eastern European SMEs. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-09-2024-0623 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-09-2024-0623
Kamleitner, B., Korunka, C., & Kirchler, E. (2012). Tax compliance of small business owners. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 18(3), 330–351. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552551211227710 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/13552551211227710
Kirchler, E., Hoelzl, E., & Wahl, I. (2008). Enforced versus voluntary tax compliance: The “slippery slope” framework. Journal of Economic Psychology, 29(2), 210–225. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2007.05.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2007.05.004
Laurie, G., & Serrano-Archimi, C. (2025). From Opportunistic to Systemic: Entrepreneurial Reactions to Decarbonisation in SMEs. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.70262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.70262
Lewis, A. (1982). The social psychology of taxation. British Journal of Social Psychology, 21(2), 151–158. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1982.tb00523.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1982.tb00523.x
Malik, I. H., & Ford, J. D. (2025). Barriers and limits to adaptation in the Arctic. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 73, 101519. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101519 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101519
Mascagni, G. (2018). FROM THE LAB TO THE FIELD: A REVIEW OF TAX EXPERIMENTS. Journal of Economic Surveys, 32(2), 273–301. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12201 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12201
Mascagni, G., Mengistu, A. T., & Woldeyes, F. B. (2021). Can ICTs increase tax compliance? Evidence on taxpayer responses to technological innovation in Ethiopia. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 189, 172–193. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.06.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.06.007
Munjeyi, E., & Schutte, D. P. (2025). Voluntary tax compliance determinants among small and medium enterprises in democratic societies: the role of tax literacy, tax amnesty, tax reward, and service delivery. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1), 2526139. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2526139 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2526139
Ntiamoah, J. A., Agyenim-Boateng, C., Opoku-Asante, K., Kusi, P. P., & Arhenful, P. (2025). The Effects of Financial Rewards and Penalties on Tax Evasion and Whistleblowing Intentions in Accra, Ghana. Public Integrity, 27(5), 533–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2024.2364383 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2024.2364383
Olsen, J., Kasper, M., Kogler, C., Muehlbacher, S., & Kirchler, E. (2019). Mental accounting of income tax and value added tax among self-employed business owners. Journal of Economic Psychology, 70, 125–139. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2018.12.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2018.12.007
Qamruzzaman, M., & Karim, S. (2024). Green energy, green innovation, and political stability led to green growth in OECD nations. Energy Strategy Reviews, 55, 101519. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2024.101519 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2024.101519
Radulović, B., & Savić, M. (2025). Accounting practitioners and small business clients’ tax compliance: evidence from the survey of Serbian accountants. European Journal of Law and Economics, 59(2), 277–305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-024-09798-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-024-09798-9
Roggeman, A., Aro-Sati, L., & Verleyen, I. (2025). Compliance with base erosion and profit shifting action 13: Insights from tax consultants and tax officials. European Research on Management and Business Economics, 31(1), 100267. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2024.100267 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2024.100267
Schoeman, A. (2025). An exploratory study on supplier acceptance of and engagement in a national tax lottery designed to improve tax compliance. South African Journal of Accounting Research, 39(2), 128–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/10291954.2024.2393913 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10291954.2024.2393913
Tavoletti, E., Kazemargi, N., Cerruti, C., Grieco, C., & Appolloni, A. (2021). Business model innovation and digital transformation in global management consulting firms. European Journal of Innovation Management, 25(6), 612–636. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-11-2020-0443 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-12-2021-0606
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ariska Setiana, Imahda Khori Furqon (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Inovasi Pajak Indonesia (JIPI) © 2024 by Inovasi Analisis Data is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0






