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.
Key Resources
Tax Administration and Compliance Library
Does Information about Public Services Boost Tax Compliance? I conducted an experiment in Freetown to find out
This research was conducted alongside the ICTD/LoGRI-led initiative to implement comprehensive property tax reforms in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This reform…
We interviewed 83 tax collectors in Malawi and here is what we learnt
Tax specialists have a great deal to say about how African tax collectors could work better but rarely seem to…
Why don’t governments collect more revenue? The answer is complex but here are some new insights
Why don’t governments collect more tax revenue? This question is particularly relevant to lower income countries as many of their…
How digital public infrastructure could transform tax administration in Africa
Evidence suggests that digital public infrastructure (DPI) can greatly simplify tax administration and boost tax compliance. However, some persistent challenges…
Design features of simplified tax regimes for small businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa
Why Cameroon’s mobile money agents are struggling to increase revenue
Rethinking mass tax registration campaigns: challenges and solutions
Taxpayer registration has been a primary concern for revenue administrations. While these bodies have recently been investing significant efforts into…
ICTD launches DFS TaxMap: A comprehensive visualisation tool on taxation of digital financial services in Africa
African revenue authority researchers gather to share insights on driving evidence-based tax policy
The ICTD hosted a four-day workshop which brought together a group of partners from the research departments of the tax…
Stakeholder meeting on taxing the informal sector held in Abuja
Nigeria is facing a looming fiscal crisis, with its debt servicing equal to the revenue it generates. More than half…
ICTD researchers discuss taxation of high net worth individuals on TADAT podcast
ICTD Research Director Dr Giulia Mascagni has been featured in a third episode of the TADAT podcast series, sharing the…
Call for research proposals: Taxing the wealthy in lower-income countries
Taxation of wealthy individuals – broadly those with relatively high incomes and/or wealth as compared to national populations – presents…
Virtual
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Timezone: Europe/London
Property valuation is essential for effectively mobilising property tax revenue. While it may seem straightforward in theory, in practice multiple administrative, legal, political, and financial challenges continue to limit effective property valuation across Africa. Dominant valuation methods have significant trade-offs
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Public Policies, Institutions and Developing Countries: What are the strategic challenges to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic? Register to attend here. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the health and social fabric of society, and
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On June 15th, the ICTD’s founder and Senior Fellow Professor Mick Moore (pictured on the left) will be giving a webinar in a new series hosted by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). He will
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You are cordially invited to the third Ethiopian Tax Research Network seminar, hosted at Addis Ababa University (AAU). The first speaker will be Dr. Wollela Yesegat, Assistant Professor at AAU, who will present on “Micro Business Taxation in Ethiopia”. The
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