RESULTS AND ANALYSES
UseikK
The results of the use tax ANCOVA analyses on the accountability (Affidavit) and sanction
(Penalty) treatments as well as the revenue partitioned factor (Revenue State) are presented in
Table 2. Of the 277 taxpayers reporting use tax obligations, 129 received the penalty information
and 134 were requested to file the affidavit if no use tax was due. The revenue state partition
categorized 117 with declining gross revenues and 160 with increasing gross revenues. As expected,
the use tax base for the same period in the preceding year was a highly significant
covariate. '
Panel A of Table 2 indicates Affidavit is a significant (p = .007) main effect and in the
anticipated direction, as shown in Table 2, Panel B (means: No Affidavit 8.062, Affidavit 8.624).
Requesting the filing of a signed affidavit by the party responsible for certifying that no use tax is
due increased the amount of use tax base declared on the Combined Excise Tax Return by
construction firms for the 3rd Q 2003, thus supporting HI. In dollar terms, requiring an affidavit
increased the mean reported tax base from $3,172 to $5,563, an increase of 75 percent.
Hypotheses 2, the sanction main effect is not supported (p = .145; means: No Penalty 8.193,
Penalty 8.492). That is, mere communication of penalty provisions did not significantly impact
compliance.
Firms receiving the request for the accountability affidavit and the sanction information were
expected to report a higher use tax base than those not receiving both manipulations, according to
H3. This additive effect of Affidavit and Penalty is not found by the analysis presented in Table 2
(p = .528) and, therefore, H3 is not supported.