David Mondru Sihotang
Syntax Literate, Vol. 5, No. 12, Desember 2020 1515
different motives, mostly are the cost for non-compliance is too high or they feel
responsible as a citizen and members of the community (Wahl, I., Kastlunger, B., &
Kirchler, 2010). Therefore, tax regulation is required to capture the taxpayer’s motives
and the given authority for tax authority to ensure the tax administration run well.
Most recent studies have been conducted to study deeply how both tax authority
and taxpayer having role in the tax compliance. Regulation and power are believed to be
determinant factors as policy tools to enhance tax compliance, such as audit rates and
fines. Moreover, hard approaches are often used to provide a deterrent effect. This angle
of perspectives had brought researchers in many years ago to study more in this area
includes perception of audit rates, penalty rates, fines (financial or non-financial), and
investigation which affect compliance (Alm, J., Bahl, R., & Murray, 1993), (Fortin,
Lacroix, & Villeval, 2007), (Wahl, I., Kastlunger, B., & Kirchler, 2010), (Allingham &
Sandmo, 1972), (Yitzhaki, 1974). However, those factors often show inconsistent effects
on tax compliance because many studies have shown that majority of people are willing
to pay taxes (Wahl, I., Kastlunger, B., & Kirchler, 2010).
In the same way, regulation and power of authorities cannot stand alone. Tax
compliance always need interaction and relationship between taxpayer and tax authority.
The attitude of taxpayer is needed to be considered as unit that cannot be separated.
Motivations to comply with tax law are often based on enforced and voluntary
cooperation, therefore how people perceive the law and the power of authority is
interested to deeply explore. Some studies found that social and institutional
environment in individuals (Faizal, Palil, Maelah, & Ramli, 2017), (Hessing, Elffers,
Robben, & Webley, 1992), (Wenzel, 2004), and trust in institution as well (Feld & Frey,
2003) affect the compliance. The interaction between power of tax authority and trust in
authority brings idea to integrates economics and psychological factor as the social
dilemma framework called slippery slope framework (Wahl, I., Kastlunger, B., &
Kirchler, 2010).
In the following years, the concept of slippery slope framework (Wahl, I.,
Kastlunger, B., & Kirchler, 2010) had been translated in the theoretical and practical
terms. Practically, changes in dynamics of interactions provide an opportunity for tax
authorities to improve the service climate and trust to improve compliance (Gangl,
Hofmann, & Kirchler, 2015). Furthermore, other experimental study found out that even
though trust and power shows positively effect on tax payment, however in voluntary
compliance, trust increase and power decreases compliance and vice versa on enforced
compliance (Wahl, I., Kastlunger, B., & Kirchler, 2010).
In Indonesia while tax revenue is still a mainstay to support the government
budget, tax compliance issue always leaves problem to be addressed. In the last few
years until 2018, tax revenue has never been reached, not to mention tax compliance that
it is still disappointing. The level of tax compliance with tax reporting is still low. In
2018, there is only 61% from 18 million taxpayers who submit their tax return.
Moreover, Indonesia is currently carrying out tax reform to improve tax administration
system. Some research studies in Indonesia found out that tax morale had a significant
effect in tax compliance, while demographic variable is the strongest factor (Widodo,
Djefris, & Wardhani, 2010). Another experimental study described that understanding of
tax and good sentiment to institution are catalyst to enhance tax compliance
(Parlaungan, 2017).
The latest research in tax compliance in Indonesia brought the idea of slippery
slope of framework to apply in the sense of trust and power climate in Indonesia tax