Factor influencing taxpayer compliance on voluntary tax disclosure program initiative: Case of Kenya revenue authority southern region

Tax is the primary source of government revenue, its vital component in running daily government activities. Not collecting enough tax causes the government to strain or stalling of its mandates, therefore its role of every government to mitigate and maximize its tax collection scope. The research sought to investigate the factors influencing taxpayer compliance on voluntary tax disclosure program in Kenya Revenue Authority, case of Southern region. The specific objectives of these research included, to assess the effects of Tax Sanctions on the taxpayer on participation in a voluntary tax disclosure program. To determine the impact of subjective norms of taxpayer participation on the Voluntary tax disclosure program. To evaluate the influence of taxpayer knowledge on participation in a voluntary tax disclosure program. The main challenge that was thematic for investigation, why despite the opportunity to declare asset without punitive punishment, still there is few uptakes for the program. The geographical location of the research was in Southern Region Domestic Taxes department on its six tax office namely; Voi, Mombasa South, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa North and Diani for the financial year 2023/2024. The study sought to use descriptive approach, where a sample size of 150 was derived from a population of 230 staffs in Compliance Domestic taxes. Data collection was done using online well-structured questionnaire via Kobo-Collect in a random sampling and analyzed using SPSS version 28. To test validity and reliability of the data pilot test was conducted and Cronbach alpha and KMO-test proved data to be reliable and valid. The output of the analysis showed the regression model whose covariates, Tax sanction (t=2.448, P<0.016) subjective norm (t=3.347, P<0.001) and taxpayer Knowledge (t=7.827, P<0.00) were all significant at 95% level. Moreover, the R2 =0.951 which means the exploratory variables explained 95.1% variation of Compliance to the Voluntary tax disclosure. The ANOVA result showed the data was fit to the model was good at (F=942.61, p<0.00). The study concluded indeed, Subjective norms, Tax Sanction and Taxpayer Knowledge influences greatly compliance of Taxpayer towards Voluntary tax disclosure. The research implied that proper use of tax sanction such us fines, penalties, and interest on taxpayers would increase compliance. Also educating taxpayer is essential as the decisions made by some taxpayers depend on the knowledge they have acquired. Also on subjective norms, some behaviors are traceable as some are based on influence of association hence compliance officer need to continuous encourage taxpayer to comply. This research recommends that the authority through the compliance officer, use of subjective norms, Taxpayer knowledge and Tax sanction as a mitigating strategy to mitigate on Voluntary tax disclosure, through this it will increase tax base and revenue mobilization and compliance status of Taxpayers.