Tax Avoidance Practices in ASEAN Countries: Effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance, and Capital Intensity
-
https://doi.org/10.14419/39pfp286
Received date: August 4, 2025
Accepted date: September 8, 2025
Published date: October 14, 2025
-
tax avoidance, environmental, social and governance, capital intensity, firm size, debt to equity ratio, return on assets -
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and capital intensity (CI) factors that affect tax avoidance (TA). The 3,634 non-financial companies in ASEAN countries are the research population. The research sample is 87 companies. Panel data multiple regression is the analysis method employed. The results showed ESG has a positive and significant and CI has a negative and significant to TA. CI and ESG initiatives are intended to improve legitimacy and streamline business processes. There is a substantial difference in TA between the pandemic and the non-pandemic period. The Philippines is a country with a tendency to be more tax-compliant, resulting in a lower level of TA practices. As the tax authority, the government must always keep an eye on how businesses are acting in relation to ESG and their investments in assets to make sure these activities aren't being used as a cover for TA.
-
References
- Abdelfattah, T., & Aboud, A. (2020). Tax avoidance, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility: The case of the Egyptian capital market. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 38, 100304. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.intaccaudtax.2020.100304
- Aladwey, L. (2022). Tax Avoidance Practices and Firm-Specific Characteristics: Empirical Evidence from the Egyptian Listed Companies. Science Journal for Commercial Research, 1(1), 43–74. https://doi.org/10.21608/ sjsc.2021.104326.1071
- Alareeni, B. A., & Hamdan, A. (2020). ESG Impact on Performance of US S&P 500-Listed Firms. Corporate Governance (Bingley), 20(7), 1409–1428. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-06-2020-0258
- Anggraini, P., & Wahyudi, I. (2022). Pengaruh Reputasi Perusahaan, Environmental, Social and Governance dan Kualitas Audit Terhadap Tax Avoidance. Fair Value: Jurnal Ilmiah Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 5(2), 643–649. https://doi.org/10.32670/fairvalue.v5i2.2120
- Angir, P., & Weli, W. (2024). The Influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Disclosure on Firm Value: An Asymmetric Information Perspective in Indonesian Listed Companies. Binus Business Review, 15(1), 29–40. https://doi.org/10.21512/ bbr.v15i1.10460
- Apriani, I. S., & Sunarto. (2022). Pengaruh Leverage, Capital Intensity, dan Inventory Intensity Terhadap Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Ilmiah Komputerisasi Akuntansi, 15(2), 326–333. https://doi.org/10.51903/kompak.v15i2.678
- Ariff, A., Wan Ismail, W. A., Kamarudin, K. A., & Mohd Suffian, M. T. (2023). Financial distress and tax avoidance: the moderating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 8(3), 279–292. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-10-2022-0347
- Aziz, N. H. A., Latiff, A. R. A., Osman, M. N. H., & Alshdaifat, S. M. (2024). The interaction effect of family ownership , board gender and skills on CSR strategy with ESG performance : evidence from ASEAN-5 countries. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 1(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-02-2024-0113
- Basuki, A. T. (2019). Buku Praktikum Eviews Program Studi Magister Manajemen Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. Danisa Media.
- Bimo, I. D., Prasetyo, C. Y., & Susilandari, C. A. (2019). The effect of internal control on tax avoidance: the case of Indonesia. Journal of Economics and Development, 21(2), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1108/jed-10-2019-0042
- Candraniawati, R. O., & Suhendra. (2023). Pengaruh Pertumbuhan Penjualan, Leverage, Ukuran Perusahaan, Return on Assets dan Capital Intensity Terhadap Tax Avoidance Studi Empiris pada Perusahaan Industri Sub Sektor Property dan Real Estate yang Terdaftar di BEI Tahun 2018–2021. Prosiding : Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 3(2), 1–15. https://jurnal.ubd.ac.il
- Chairani, R., & Zuraida, Z. (2021). Effects of Environmental, Social, and Governance Disclosures on Organizational Visibility: Empirical Study of Non-Financial Companies Listed on The Indonesia Stock Exchange. Indonesian Journal of Sustainability Accounting and Management, 5(2), 354–363. https://doi.org/10.28992/ijsam.v5i2.476
- Chouaibi, J., Rossi, M., & Abdessamed, N. (2022). The effect of corporate social responsibility practices on tax avoidance: an empirical study in the French context. Competitiveness Review, 32(3), 326–349. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-04-2021-0062
- Darsani, P. A., & Sukartha, I. M. (2021). The Effect of Institutional Ownership, Profitability, Leverage and Capital Intensity Ratio on Tax Avoidance. American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research, 5(1), 13–22. www.ajhssr.com
- Daud, S. N. M., Ghazali, N. S., & Ismail, N. H. M. (2024). ESG, innovation, and economic growth: an empirical evidence. Studies in Economics and Finance, 41(4), 845–870. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEF-11-2023-0692
- Dowling, J., & Pfeffer, J. (1975). Organizational Legitimacy: Social Values and Organizational Behavior. Pacific Sociological Review, 18(1), 122–136. https://doi.org/10.2307/1388226
- Duhoon, A., & Singh, M. (2023). Corporate tax avoidance: a systematic literature review and future research directions. LBS Journal of Management & Research, 21(2), 197–217. https://doi.org/10.1108/lbsjmr-12-2022-0082
- Duong, T. Q., & Huang, Y. C. (2022). The Mediation Effects of Tax Avoidance Between ESG and Cost Of Debt, Firm Value: Evidence from Asean Listed Corporations. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S2), 201–232. http://scientificia.com/ index.php/JEBE/article/view/198
- E-Vahdati, S., Wan-Hussin, W. N., & Mohd Ariffin, M. S. (2022). Sustainability performance and board compensation in Japan and ASEAN-5 countries. Borsa Istanbul Review, 22, S189–S199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2022.12.004
- El-Deeb, M. S., Ismail, T. H., & Banna, A. A. El. (2023). Does audit quality moderate the impact of environmental, social and governance disclosure on firm value? Further evidence from Egypt. Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, 5(4), 293–322. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhass-11-2022-0155
- Fajarwati, P. A. N., & Ramadhanti, W. (2021). Pengaruh Informasi Akuntansi (ROA, Leverage, Sales Growth, Capital Intensity dan Company Size) dan Company Age Terhadap Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Investasi, 7(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.31943/investasi.v7i1.112
- Fajriah, N., & Nursita, M. (2024). Pengaruh Pertumbuhan Penjualan, Intensitas Modal, Umur Perusahaan dan Ukuran Perusahaan terhadap Penghindaran Pajak. AKUA: Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 3(2), 62–72. https://doi.org/10.54259/akua.v3i2.2432
- Falbo, T. D., & Firmansyah, A. (2019). Thin Capitalization, Transfer Pricing Aggresiveness, Penghindaran Pajak. Indonesian Journal of Accounting and Governance, 2(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.36766/ijag.v2i1.11
- Firmansyah, M. Y., & Bahri, S. (2022). Pengaruh Leverage, Capital Intensity, Sales Growth, dan Ukuran Perusahaan Terhadap Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Sains Dan Humaniora, 6(3), 430–439. https://doi.org/10.23887/jppsh.v6i3.53401
- Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach. Cambridge University Press.
- Fuadah, L. L., Mukhtaruddin, M., Andriana, I., & Arisman, A. (2022). The Ownership Structure, and The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Disclosure, Firm Value and Firm Performance: The Audit Committee as Moderating Variable. Economies, 10(12), 314–329. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10120314
- Ghozali, I. (2021). Aplikasi Analisis Multivariate Dengan Program IBM SPSS26. Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.
- Globalwitness. (2019). Jaringan Luar Negeri Milik Adaro. Globalwitness.org, 1–11. https://www.globalwitness.org/ en/campaigns/oil-gas-and-mining/pengalihan-uang-batu-bara-indonesia-bagian-3-saatnya-adaro-membayar-pajak/.
- Gunawan, A. (2022). Peranan Good Corporate Governance Dalam Meminimalisir Praktik Penghindaran Pajak Pada Perusahaan Go Publik. Owner: Riset & Jurnal Akuntansi, 6(1), 379–385. https://doi.org/10.33395/owner.v6i1.618
- Hidayat, K., & Zuhroh, D. (2023). The Impact of Environmental, Social and Governance, Sustainable Financial Performance, Ownership Structure, and Composition of Company Directors on Tax Avoidance: Evidence from Indonesia. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 13(6), 311–320. https://doi.org/10.32479/ ijeep.14557
- Inawati, W. A., & Rahmawati. (2023). Dampak Environmental, Social, dan Governance (ESG) Terhadap Kinerja Keuangan. Jurnal Akademi Akuntansi, 6(2), 225–241. https://doi.org/ 10.22219/jaa.v6i2.26674
- Ismanto, H., & Pebruary, S. (2021). Aplikasi SPSS Dan Eviews Dalam Analisis Data Penelitian. Deepublish.
- Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1979). Theory of the Firm: Managerial Behavior, Agency Costs, and Ownership Structure BT - Economics Social Institutions: Insights from the Conferences on Analysis & Ideology (K. Brunner (ed.); 163–231). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9257-3_8
- Jiang, H., Hu, W., & Jiang, P. (2024). Does ESG Performance Affect Corporate Tax Avoidance? Evidence from China. Finance Research Letters, 61(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.frl.2024.105056
- Karyani, E., & Perdiansyah, M. R. (2022). ESG and Intellectual Capital Efficiency: Evidence from Asean Emerging Markets. Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan Indonesia, 19(2), 166–187. https://doi.org/10.21002/jaki.2022.08
- Khlifi, S., Chouaibi, Y., & Chouaibi, S. (2024). Do ESG practices mediate the relationship between board characteristics and tax avoidance in G20 countries? Corporate Governance (Bingley), January. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-11-2023-0498
- Kurniawan, T. (2020). Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Rasio Beban Pajak Perusahaan: Studi Empiris Sektor Manufaktur di Indonesia. Indonesian Treasury Review: Jurnal Perbendaharaan, Keuangan Negara Dan Kebijakan Publik, 5(4), 273 - 283. https://doi.org/10.33105/itrev.v5i4.178
- Laqui, I. (2024). BIR Files Tax Evasion Raps vs Alice Guo. Philstar Global.
- Law, S. H. (2018). Applied Panel Data Analysis Short Panels. Universitas Putra Malaysia Pers.
- Lukman, C. F., Marcello, N., & Andrian, T. (2024). Bridging ESG Disclosures and Corporate Financial Performance: A Study on Top-Listed Companies of the ASEAN-5 Countries. International Journal of Sustainability Policy and Practice, 20(2), 1–26. https://doi.org/ 10.18848/2325-1166/CGP/v20i02/1-26
- Maharani, F. S., & Baroroh, N. (2019). Accounting Analysis Journal The Effects of Leverage, Executive Characters, and Institutional Ownership to Tax Avoidance With Political Connection as Moderation. Accounting Analysis Journal, 8(2), 81–87. https://doi.org/10.15294/aaj.v8i2.30039
- Mahdiana, M. Q., & Amin, M. N. (2020). Pengaruh Profitabilitas, Leverage, Ukuran Perusahaan, Dan Sales Growth Terhadap Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Akuntansi Trisakti, 7(1), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.25105/jat.v7i1.6289
- Mkadmi, J., E., & Ali, W., B. (2024). How does tax avoidance affect corporate social responsibility and financial ratio in emerging economies? Journal of Economic Criminology, 5, 01-08. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconc.2024.100070
- Megeid, N. S. A. (2023). The Quadruple Impact of Integrated ESG and CSR Sustainability Voluntary Disclosure on Financial Reporting Quality, Firm Value, Stock Value, and Tax Avoidance: Evidence from Egypt. Journal of Accounting & Auditing, 12(2), 44–126. https://doi.org/10.21608/naus.2023.310136
- Mu, H., Xu, J., & Chen, S. (2024). The impact of corporate social responsibility types on happiness management: a stakeholder theory perspective. Management Decision, 62(2), 591–613. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-02-2023-0267
- Muhmad, S. N., Haat, M. H. C., Taha, R., Rashid, N., & Muhmad, S. N. (2020). The Influence of The Financial Indicators Towards The Changes of The Corporate Tax Avoidance. Journal of Advanced Research in Dynamical and Control Systems, 12(1), 167–171. https://doi.org/10.5373/JARDCS/V12I1/20201026
- Mukhtaruddin, Susanto, H., Andara, R. novitri, & Abukosim. (2024). Tax Evoidance Practices in Emerging Capital Market: The Effect of Environment, Social and Governance, Audit Quality and Company Risk. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 18(7), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n7-053
- Moeljono, M. (2020). Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Penghindaran Pajak. Jurnal Penelitan Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 5(1), 103–121. https://doi.org/10.33633/jpeb.v5i1.2645
- Nani. (2022). Step by Step Analisis Regresi Data Panel Menggunakan Eviews (E. G. Ahmad & A. Nurcahyani (eds.)). Visi Intelegensia.
- Nguyen, L. H. T., Nguyen, T. T., Le, T. V. N., & Mai, N. D. (2023). Applying Benford’s law to examine earnings management: evidence from emerging ASEAN-5 countries. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-10-2022-0390
- Novriyanti, I., & Dalam, W. W. W. (2020). Faktor - Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Penghindaran Pajak. Journal of Applied Accounting and Taxation, 5(1), 24–35. https://doi.org/10.53916/ jam.v35i1.127
- Nurlaely, H., & Dewi, R. R. (2023). Pengaruh Pengungkapan Corporate Governance, Environmental Social Governance, Environmental Uncertainty dan Corporate Reputation Terhadap Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Ilmiah Edunomika, 08(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/ 10.29040/jie.v8i1.10581
- Nyman, R. C. S., Irawan, P. K., & Lingga, I. S. (2022). Pengaruh Firm Size, Return On Equity, dan Current Ratio Terhadap Tax Avoidance pada Perusahaan LQ 45 yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia. Jurnal Akuntansi, 14(1), 172–186. https://doi.org/10.28932/ jam.v14i1.4375
- OECD. (2024). Mobilising ASEAN Capital Markets for Sustainable Growth. Mobilising ASEAN Capital Markets for Sustainable Growth. https://doi.org/10.1787/196b5bde-en
- Oktavia, O., Siregar, S. V., Wardhani, R., & Rahayu, N. (2019). The role of country tax environment on the relationship between financial derivatives and tax avoidance. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 4(1), 70–94. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-01-2019-0009
- Omesi, I., & Appah, E. (2021). Corporate Governance and Tax Avoidance of Listed Consumer and Industrial Goods Companies In Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance (IOSR-JEF), 12(2), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.9790/5933-1202041731
- Pamungkas, E. W., Effendi, A., & Saepudin, D. (2022). Analisis Pengaruh Profitabilitas, Sales Growth, Firm Size, Leverage dan Capital Intensity Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak. Techno-Socio Ekonomika, 15(1), 61–76. https://doi.org/10.32897/techno.2022.15.1.1083
- Prabowo, A., & Sahlan, R. (2022). Pengaruh Profitabilitas, Leverage dan Capital Intensity Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak dengan Ukuran Perusahaan sebagai Variabel (Moderating) (Studi Empiris pada Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di BEI Tahun 2015-2019). Media Akuntansi Perpajakan, 6(2), 55–74. https://doi.org/10.52447/map.v6i2.5126
- Pratiwi, N. I., Fuadah, L. L., & Yunisvita, Y. (2024). The Influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Political Connections, Gender Diversity, and Capital Intensity on Tax Avoidance. Asian Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship and Social Science, 4(03), 1045–1068. https://doi.org/10.63922/ajmesc.v4i03.972
- Putri, S. N., Hariyanto, E., Kusbandiyah, A., & Pandansari, T. (2022). The Effect of Capital Intensity, Leverage, and Institutional Ownership on Tax Avoidance With Profitability As a Moderation Variable. SAR (Soedirman Accounting Review): Journal of Accounting and Business, 07(02), 86–97. https://doi.org/10.32424/1.sar.2022.7.2.7339
- Rahma, A. A., Pratiwi, N., Mary, H., & Indriyenni, I. (2022). Pengaruh Capital Intensity, Karakteristik Perusahaan, Dan CSR Disclosure Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak Pada Perusahaan Manufaktur. Owner, 6(1), 677–689. https://doi.org/10.33395/owner.v6i1.637
- Rahmadani, I. M., & Abubakar, E. (2020). Pengaruh Ukuran Perusahaan, Profitabilitas, Leverage, dan Manajemen Laba Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak Dimoderasi oleh Political Connection. Jurnal Riset Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 8(2), 375–392. https://doi.org/10.17509/ jrak.v8i2.22807
- Ramadhan, L., & Wadi, I. (2024). The Effect of ESG, Inventory Intensity and Managerial Ownership on Tax Avoidance. Educoretax, 4(8), 955–968. https://doi.org/10.54957/ educoretax.v4i8.1026
- Rifai, A., & Atiningsih, S. (2019). Pengaruh Leverage, Profitabilitas, Capital Intensity, Manajemen Laba Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak. Econbank: Journal of Economics and Banking, 1(2), 135–142. https://doi.org/10.35829/ econbank.v1i2.48
- Ruan, L., & Liu, H. (2021). Environmental, Social, Governance Activities and Firm Performance: Evidence from China. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su13020767
- Sinaga, C. H., & Suardikha, I. M. S. (2019). Pengaruh Leverage dan Capital Intensity pada Tax Avoidance dengan Proporsi Komisaris Independen sebagai Variabel Pemoderasi. E-Jurnal Akuntansi Universitas Udayana, 27(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.24843/eja.2019.v27.i01.p01
- Souguir, Z., Lassoued, N., Khanchel, I., & Bouzgarrou, H. (2024). Environmental performance and corporate tax avoidance: Greenwashing policy or eco-responsibility? The moderating role of ownership structure. Journal of Cleaner Production, 434, 140152 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140152
- Stawati, V. (2020). Pengaruh Profitabilitas, Leverage, dan Ukuran Perusahaan Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak. Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Bisnis: Jurnal Program Studi Akuntansi, 6(2), 147–157. https://doi.org/10.31289/jab.v6i2.3472
- Suciarti, C., Suryani, E., & Kurnia, K. (2020). The Effect of Leverage, Capital Intensity and Deferred Tax Expense on Tax Avoidance. Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business, 3(2), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.24198/ jaab.v3i2.28624
- Sugimin, Indarto, & Indudewi, D. (2024). Do Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Leverage, and Financial Performance Affect Tax Avoidance? Jurnal Konsep Bisnis Dan Manajemen, 10(2), 209–222. https://doi.org/10.31289/jkbm.v10i2.11732
- Sumunar, K., & Djakman, C. (2020). CEO Overconfidence, ESG Disclosure, and Firm Risk. Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan Indonesia, 17(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.21002/ jaki.2020.01
- Tanujaya, K., & Cantikasari, A. (2022). Dampak Pengendalian Internal dan Penghindaran Pajak dengan Moderasi Kepemilikan Keluarga dan Ketidakpastian Lingkungan. Jurnal Akuntansi Trisakti, 9(2), 155–178. https://doi.org/10.25105/jat.v9i2.14762
- Teja, A. (2024). Environmental, Social and Governance Disclosure Scores and Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Ilmiah Akuntansi, 9(1), 186–209. https://doi.org/10.23887/jia.v9i1.69573
- Ulfa, E. K., Suprapti, E., & Latifah, S. W. (2021). The Effect of CEO Tenure, Capital Intensity, and Firm Size on Tax Avoidance. Jurnal Reviu Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 11(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.22219/jrak.v11i1.16140
- VOA Indonesia. (2019). Pengadilan Thailand Denda Philip Morris Karena Hindari Pajak. https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/pengadilan-thailand-denda-philip-morris-karena-hindari-pajak/5186156.html. Diakses pada 18 November 2024
- Wang, J., Fan, W., & Wang, Z. (2024). Tax Incentives and Earnings Management: A Study Based on Accelerated Depreciation Policy in China. Economic Analysis and Policy, 81(8), 281–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2023.11.036
- Widadi, F. A., Subroto, B., & Rahman, A. F. (2022). Tax Avoidance Mediated by Constitutional Ownership as Moderating Variables. Etikonomi, 21(2), 411–430. https://doi.org/10.15408/ etk.v21i2.25799
- Yoon, B. H., Lee, J. H., & Cho, J. H. (2021). The Effect of ESG Performance on Tax Avoidance—Evidence from Korea. Sustainability, 13(12), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126729
- Yudhanto, W., & Simamora, A. J. (2023). Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk on Firm Performance: The Mediating Role of Firm Risk. Binus Business Review, 14(2), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.21512/bbr.v14i2.8935
- Zhang, C., Zhang, S., Lu, P., & Yan, J. (2021). ESG Ratings and Corporate Tax Avoidance-An Analysis based on Chinese A-share Listed Companies. Scientific Journal of Economics and Management Research, 3(12), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251341282
- Zoebar, M. K. Y., & Miftah, D. (2020). Pengaruh Corporate Social Responsibility, Capital Intensity dan Kualitas Audit Terhadap Penghindaran Pajak. Jurnal Magister Akuntansi Trisakti, 7(1), 25–40. https://doi.org/10.25105/jmat.v7i1.6315
-
Downloads
-
How to Cite
Mukhtaruddin, Siahaan, H. M. A. ., Novriansa, A. ., & Kalsum, U. . (2025). Tax Avoidance Practices in ASEAN Countries: Effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance, and Capital Intensity. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(6), 544-554. https://doi.org/10.14419/39pfp286
