Tax Morale and Tax Evasion in Latin American Countries

It is hard for tax administrations to levy and collect taxes anywhere and anytime. However, taxing certain kinds of activities, sectors, or individuals – the so-called “informal sector” – is an additional challenge for tax administrations in both developing and developed countries, and the “fiscal gap” that arises from the failure to tax this sector can be quite large. This issue is especially pressing in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries, where often over half of the workforce is found in the informal sector. In this paper we examine taxation and tax compliance in LAC countries – and beyond – focusing on several main questions. What is meant by the “informal sector”? What is the size of informal sector in LAC countries? What are some effects from an informal sector, including the size of the “fiscal gap”? What are the reasons for this fiscal gap? What can be done to address these various issues?