Examination of accounting irregularities under Turkish Tax Law and a research on accounting professionals

Tax, in Turkish tax law, is collected based on tax declarations. Tax returns are prepared on behalf of the taxpayers by professional accountants. As members of the accounting profession are paid by taxpayers, they sometimes may have to fulfil the demands and expectations of taxpayers who want to pay less tax. In addition, some factors stemming from the taxation system such as complex tax laws, legal contradictions and gaps, insufficient supervision, low penalties, heavy tax burden and tax justice can also create justified reasons and opportunities that can lead professionals to resort to accounting irregularities. The study aims to theoretically examine the causes of accounting irregularities, factors affecting tax compliance and accounting mistakes and frauds within the scope of Turkish tax law and to determine the factors that motivate accounting professionals to accounting irregularities in terms of tax. In the study, it was also aimed to determine the differences between the perceptions of accounting professionals about the factors that cause accounting irregularities in terms of their demographic characteristics. To this end, theories regarding tax compliance and the reasons that lead individuals to fraud were examined in depth and the questionnaire prepared based on these theories was applied to 401 independent accounting professionals in İzmir. Results of the research helped determine 7 factors that affect the tax compliance of accounting professionals and direct them to accounting irregularities. These factors, in order of importance, are taxpayer and wage pressure, tax regulations, low penalties, insufficient supervision, tax ethics, professional duty perception and professional ethics. The first and most important factor that motivates professionals to accounting irregularities is taxpayer and wage pressure, while the most important dimension is opportunity. The study revealed statistical differences among accounting professionals in terms of the factors determined by the variables of gender, age, level of income and felt position.