Tax Administration and Compliance

Research Theme

Tax Administration and Compliance

Many of the challenges low-income countries face in mobilising domestic resources are related to tax administration as much as tax policy. Our research on this theme encompasses all aspects of tax administration, from technology adoption, to data management and strategies for collecting revenue from different types of taxpayers. Tax compliance is a key focus, as low-income countries struggle with widespread evasion, corruption, and limited administrative capacity. Our research on compliance includes survey-based studies of taxpayers’ perceptions and attitudes, case studies, and large-scale field experiments.

Tax Administration and Compliance

Led By

Tax Administration and Compliance Library

Working Paper

The Customer is King: Evidence on VAT Compliance in Tanzania

October 2018
Odd-Helge Fjeldstad, Cecilia Kagoma, Ephraim Mdee, Ingrid Hoem Sjursen, Vincent Somville

African Tax Administration Paper

Are There Any Reliable Data on Wages in Low-Income Countries? Observations and Lessons from Ethiopia

September 2018
Andualem T. Mengistu, Giulia Mascagni

Research in Brief

Regulatory Burdens in Tax Administration and Firms’ Compliance Costs in Africa

September 2018
Merima Ali

Partner Publication

African Tax Outlook (ATO) – 2018

September 2018

Research in Brief

Why is Tax Education Important for Compliance?

August 2018
Giulia Mascagni, Fabrizio Santoro

Research in Brief

Can ICTs Increase Tax? Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia

August 2018
Giulia Mascagni, Andualem T. Mengistu, Firew B. Woldeyes

Working Paper

Can ICTs Increase Tax? Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia

July 2018
Giulia Mascagni, Andualem T. Mengistu, Firew B. Woldeyes

Policy Brief

Tax Reform for Low Income Countries: Five Ideas for Simplifying Tax Systems to Fit Local Realities

June 2018
Wilson Prichard

Working Paper

Tax in Development: Towards a Strategic Aid Approach

May 2018
Olav Lundstøl

Book

Taxing Africa: Coercion, Reform and Development

May 2018
Mick Moore, Wilson Prichard, Odd-Helge Fjeldstad

Policy Brief

Linking Beneficial Ownership Transparency to Improved Tax Revenue Collection in Developing Countries

May 2018
Wilson Prichard

Working Paper

Regulatory Burdens in Tax Administration and Firms’ Compliance Costs in Africa

May 2018
Merima Ali

Virtual

19 August 2026 – 11:00

•

Timezone: UTC

This webinar will bring together researchers and practitioners to examine what AI adoption means in practice for African tax administrations and which applications need stronger DPI foundations.

Virtual

15 December 2025 – 15:00

•

Timezone: Europe/London

ICTD Research Fellow Giovanni Occhiali will join a high-level panel during the launch of Tax Justice Network’s ‘Admin Data for Tax Justice’ database.

Virtual

3 September 2025 – 03:30

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Timezone: UTC

ICTD Research Fellow Mick Moore will be speaking at Arutha’s Debt & Tax Dialogue on fair and efficient tax solutions on 3rd of September.

In person

3 December 2024 – 10:00

•

Timezone: America/New_York

United Nations Headquarters, East 45th Street, New York, NY, USA
The ICTD will be hosting a side event at the Second Preparatory Committee Session of the Financing for Development Conference.

Current

Investigating the Inclusion of Welfare Issues in the IMF’s Tax Policy Agenda: A Quantitative Analysis of Article IV Consultation Reports

Start date: 01/08/2025

Current

Extent and Distributional Implications of Non-Compliance with Local and National Taxes among Firms in Kampala, Uganda

Start date: 01/07/2022

Current

The Politics of Tax Reform in Pakistan

Start date: 05/01/2026

Current

Tracking Tax Compliance: Evaluating Pakistan’s Track and Trace System

Start date: 01/09/2025

Current

Navigating Tax Compliance in Pakistan: The Role of Heuristics in Self-Reporting Systems

Start date: 10/02/2025

Current

One-stop Shops as Intermediaries Between Digital States and Non-digital Populations

Start date: 11/11/2025

Current

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Experimental evidence of tax advice in Rwanda

Start date: 02/12/2024

Current

Collection Cost and Revenue: Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Administration of the Tax Stamp in Ghana

Start date: 01/10/2024

Current

The Politics and Practice of Tax Targets

Start date: 10/07/2024

Current

Tax Officials and Tax Compliance: Attitudes to Enforcement and Implications on Taxpayer Compliance

Start date: 01/01/2022

Current

What Impacts Do Tax Agents Have on Taxpayer Compliance in Uganda? Evidence from eTax – Phase 2

Start date: 01/08/2026

Current

Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Tax Administration: Opportunities, Limits, and Evidence from Zambia – Phase 1

Start date: 01/01/2026
Alex Kombat
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Research Affiliate
Hannelore Niesten
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Associate Postdoctoral Fellow
Jalia Kangave
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Associate Research Fellow
Lucia Rossel
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Research Affiliate
Mick Moore
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Research Fellow & Publications Editor
Moyo Arewa
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Programme Director, LoGRI
Ronald Waiswa
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Research Affiliate
Samuel Jibao
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Research Affiliate
Wilson Prichard
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Associate Research Fellow, ICTD and Chair, LoGRI

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