Does the Tax System Reduce Tax Evasion in Light of the Governance Mechanisms? Evidence From Jordan

Abstract

This study aims to measure the impact of tax system elements on reducing the tax evasion, in light of the governance mechanisms in Jordan. The study sample consists of (140) tax auditors at the Jordanian Income tax and sales department, and to achieve the study objectives the researcher designed a questionnaire and distributed it on the study sample members. Study results show that elements of the tax system (tax legislations, tax administration, and Taxpayer) have a positive impact on reducing the tax evasion, in light of governance mechanisms. study recommends the need to raise the tax awareness level among members of the Taxpayer, work to reduce the continuation of making adjustments on tax laws and legislation, and give a sufficient period of time to ensure that desired economic and social impact being achieved from these adjustments, with the need to announce the official statistics of tax evasion’s figures and ratios, because the unofficial statistics on tax evasion have been tarnished by some exaggeration where work should concentrate on increasing penalties of tax evaders.