The Effects of Compliance Cost on Tax Compliance of Companies Listed At The Nairobi Securities Exchange

Abstract

The main issue faced by all tax authorities is that it has never been easy to persuade all taxpayers to comply with the regulations of a tax system. The study specifically sought to determine the effect of tax compliance cost, tax education and knowledge, fines and penalties and perceived opportunity for tax evasion on tax compliance in the companies listed at the NSE. The study was guided by Theory of Planned Behavior. The study used a census survey of all the sixty two listed companies. Data was collected using structured questionnaire, coded, keyed and analyzed quantitatively using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings showed that compliance cost had the negative effect on level of tax compliance. However, tax knowledge and education had positive effect on level of tax compliance among the tax payers. Similarly, fines/penalties had positive effect on level of tax compliances, while perceived opportunity for tax evasion had negative effect. The study provides some preliminary evidence that imposing fines/penalties and provision of tax knowledge and education among these companies will improve tax compliance. Conversely, high compliances cost and high opportunity for tax evasion will reduces tax compliance among registered firms. Thus, tax compliance cost should be in a way that does not encourage taxpayers to evade tax. There should be stiff enforcement of fines and penalties to deter tax evasion. Additionally, tax authorities should simplify processes involved in filling of returns and payment of taxes.