The role of Islamic values and digital tax systems: investigation compliance behavior among Muslim taxpayers

Purpose This study aims to reconstruct Muslim tax compliance behavior (MTCB) by integrating Islamic values into the behavioral framework of tax compliance. The constructs of tax behavioral akhlaq, tax behavioral niyyah (TBN) and MTCB are contextualized to reflect the psychological characteristics of Muslim taxpayers. In addition, the perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the electronic tax reporting system (e-filing) is incorporated to capture the role of tax digitalization in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a quantitative research design using survey data collected from 372 Muslim taxpayers across Indonesia. Measurement indicators were adapted from the MTCB framework to align with the psychological and religious context of Muslim taxpayers. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicate that all proposed determinants of TBN and MTCB are statistically significant. Among these relationships, TBN has the most significant predictive effect on MTCB, confirming that Muslim taxpayers’ compliance behavior is strongly influenced by internalized religious intentions and values. Practical implications This study provides critical practical insights for policymakers seeking to enhance Muslim tax compliance. It highlights the importance of internalizing Islamic values, namely, ʿaqīdah (faith), Sharia (Islamic law) and iḥsān (spiritual excellence), alongside the implementation of user-friendly tax digitalization systems. From a theoretical perspective, this study contributes to the behavioral accounting literature by extending compliance behavior models through the integration of Islamic ethical values, thereby broadening their applicability beyond conventional behavioral accounting contexts. Originality/value This study offers an original reconstruction of tax behavioral intention (niyyah) and tax compliance behavior, grounded in Islamic teachings derived from the Qur’anic Surah An-Nisa [4]:59 and the Prophetic hadith, which emphasize the importance of intentions behind action. Furthermore, by incorporating Al-Ghazali’s concept of akhlaq (Islamic morality) and adapting it to the context of tax behavior, in conjunction with the PEOU of electronic tax systems, this study demonstrates a significant contribution to enhancing MTCB in alignment with the self-assessment system. The integration of Islamic ethical values and tax technology is shown to play a crucial role in reducing tax misconduct and mitigating fraud.