Survey shows that Asia has the highest public trust in tax systems

A recent global survey reveals that public confidence in taxation is strongest in Asia. Experts attribute this trust to transparent governance and accessible digital tax services, particularly in South-East Asia and English-speaking Pacific countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Conversely, respondents from Europe and Latin America reported lower trust levels in their fiscal institutions.

The study, Public Trust in Tax 2025: Asia and Beyond, was conducted by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). More than 12,000 individuals across 29 countries participated, with the majority from Asian nations, alongside contributions from Western Europe, Latin America, and Pacific countries.

The research assessed both personal experiences with tax systems and perceptions of cooperation and competitiveness among tax authorities. The results were discussed at the IFAC Connect ASIAPAC 2025 event in Jakarta, Indonesia.

According to the survey, residents in Asia generally view their tax systems as fair and feel that public expenditures funded by taxes benefit society. Across all surveyed countries, many participants see taxation as a constructive contribution to their community rather than merely an expense. This view was most prevalent in South-East Asia, where 64.7% of respondents agreed. In comparison, only about one-third of participants outside Asia expressed the same sentiment.

Three-quarters of Asian respondents also indicated that their tax system is equitable, while fewer than one-quarter of those outside the region shared this perception. The survey highlighted that digital tax services are considered the most effective aspect of tax administration globally. However, communication by tax authorities received lower satisfaction ratings in Latin America and Western Europe compared to Asia. Across all regions, accountants were identified as the most trusted source of tax information.

Author: Ava Mitchell