CORPORATE TAX AVOIDANCE AND ZOMBIE FIRMS IN BUMN COMPANIES LISTED ON THE INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE

This study aims to analyze the effect of corporate tax avoidance on the zombie status of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The research method used is a quantitative approach with a causal-comparative approach, using secondary data from SOE annual reports for the 2018–2022 period, analyzed using a fixed-effects panel data regression model. The results show that tax avoidance has a significant negative effect on the zombie status of firms, meaning that the higher the level of tax avoidance, the less likely the company is to be classified as a zombie. However, firm size and leverage have no significant effect, while profitability (ROA) shows a nearly significant negative effect. The conclusion of this study is that tax avoidance can act as a short-term fiscal efficiency strategy to reduce the potential for zombification, but it is not statistically strong enough to be a primary determinant in the context of SOEs in Indonesia, which have their own structural and governance characteristics. Keywords: Tax Avoidance, Zombie Firms, Soes, Fiscal Effectiveness, Panel Data