TAX RETURNS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES
IDENTIFY AND ASSESS THE KEY COMPONENTS INFLUENCING LOCAL TAX RETURNS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES

Background: Taxes are regarded as an efficient tool for the country to regulate the macro-economy, which is primarily utilized to finance expenses, in addition to serving as the primary source of national net profit. Taxes are a significant source of income and a significant share of overall national net profit in emerging Southeast Asian (ASEAN) economies.

Aim: The current research seeks to determine the key components influencing the tax return policy in all ASEAN nations during the existing time frame to suggest policy changes and suggestions that will assist in the growth of the political and economic system as a whole as well as the optimization of the tax return structure.

Method: The research presented in this article includes panel data from ten nations from 2002 to 2020. The World Bank’s World Indicators are a source of information on tax returns, level of economic development (GDP), trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), agricultural value added (ARG), industrial sector value added (IND), education level, average lifespan, and infant death ratio.

Results: The study results illustrate that five out of the eight above components positively affect tax returns. FDI, IND, SCHTER, and INFDEATH have no statistical significance. This implies that when all other factors are held constant, the total national tax return is unaffected by foreign direct investment, the industry share in the GDP, the degree of education, or the infant death ratio.

Conclusion: Governments in ASEAN countries must take action to raise per capita income in order to raise tax returns. They should actively and adaptably use economic policy tools to closely and synchronously operate with financial measures.

Keywords: ASEAN countries, tax return, economic growth, GDP, FDI, governmental policies