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Tax compliance: Why do we actually pay taxes?

Benno Torgler 1 BW web_1300-Edit-2.JPG

Im Gespräch erläutert Prof. Benno Torgler die zentralen Ergebnisse aktueller Forschung zur Steuermoral und Steuercompliance. Credit: Supplied

Why do people actually pay taxes — out of fear of fines or because they trust the state? Benjamin Kanthak talks about this with economist Prof. Benno Torgler. The basis is an international study on tax compliance, which shows that it is often less financial incentives that are decisive than psychological factors such as fairness, trust and the feeling that everyone is doing their part. Especially against the backdrop of the current tax debates in Australia, it is also about the question of how stable a tax system really is when public trust dwindles.


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By Benjamin Kanthak

Presented by Benjamin Kanthak

Source: SBS




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Why do people actually pay taxes — out of fear of fines or because they trust the state? Benjamin Kanthak talks about this with economist Prof. Benno Torgler. The basis is an international study on tax compliance, which shows that it is often less financial incentives that are decisive than psychological factors such as fairness, trust and the feeling that everyone is doing their part. Especially against the backdrop of the current tax debates in Australia, it is also about the question of how stable a tax system really is when public trust dwindles.


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