The Impact of the Size of Enterprises on Tax Evasion in the Forestry Industry of Russia

Abstract

The problem of low tax revenues and a large shadow sector is relevant to many countries and industries, and the forestry industry in Russia is no exception. This study examines the forms of tax evasion in various segments of the forestry industry to evaluate the impact of the size of businesses and the level of tax audit risk on the frequency of same-type tax responses. The hypothesis is that same-type tax responses in the form of tax evasion are observed in businesses of all sizes of the forestry industry. The frequency of these tax responses correlates with the level of tax audit risk. The representative sample of micro-, small and mid-sized businesses comprises 7,910 enterprises. For each enterprise included in the sample we calculated the level of tax audit risk for the period of 2017-2020. Audit risk was calculated as a cumulative indicator of the incidence of non-compliance, which was detected by comparing the calculated and normative values of the criteria described in the Federal Tax Service’s Concept of the System of Planning of On-Site Tax Audits. The study found that the businesses of all sizes from all sectors of the forestry industry resorted to tax evasion. The specific forms and structural elements of their responses were described. The correlation and regression analysis has shown that there is a strong direct relationship between the level of tax audit risk and the frequency of same-type tax responses. The occurrence of same-type tax responses points to the weaker impact of economic factors within the traditional model of tax behaviour. These findings can be of interest to the tax authorities and policy-makers seeking to raise tax revenues collected from enterprises of the Russian forestry industry.