Perceived political corruption and tax compliance intentions among private enterprises in emerging economies: The roles of tax morale and tax tolerance in Ghana

Abstract

Corruption has been identified as a major debilitating factor in tax revenue generation, especially in developing countries. This study examines the effects of perceived political corruption on tax compliance intention and investigates the mediating roles of tax morale and tax tolerance among private businesses in Ghana. Data were collected with a questionnaire from 1133 private firms randomly sampled in the Greater Accra Region. Estimation was done using structural equation modelling with maximum likelihood estimation techniques. The study finds that perceived political corruption diminishes tax morale, tolerance and compliance intentions. Moreover, tax tolerance and tax morale enhance compliance intentions. Again, tax morale and tax tolerance partially mediate the relationship between perceived political corruption and tax compliance intention, reducing corruption's negative effects on intentions to comply with tax obligations. Finally, these tax compliance behaviours vary with education, age of business, sectors and firm size. The government of Ghana needs to focus on voluntary tax compliance by convincingly fighting corruption, especially by tightening fiscal loopholes.