Complaint Handling Procedure

Ilomata International Journal of Tax and Accounting

Table of Content

1. Scope of Complaints 2. Complaint Submission 3. Initial Review 4. Investigation & Decision 5. Outcome & Communication 6. Escalation 7. Record Keeping

FAIR

Every complaint is evaluated objectively, fairly, and independently.

CONFIDENTIAL

All complaint investigations are handled confidentially.

COPE

Investigations follow COPE guidance whenever applicable.

Scope of Complaints

The Ilomata International Journal of Tax and Accounting (IJTC) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, editorial integrity, transparency, and accountability. Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, or other stakeholders regarding matters related to the journal's publication process.

Editorial decisions and peer-review process.

Publication misconduct including plagiarism, fabricated data, falsification, duplicate publication, or authorship disputes.

Errors, inaccuracies, corrections, or concerns regarding published articles.

Violations of journal policies, publication ethics, or good scholarly publishing practices.

Complaint Submission

Complaints should be submitted in writing via email to:

Email: [email protected]

Subject: Complaint – Manuscript ID / Article DOI (if applicable)

Please include:

Name and contact information (or request anonymity if preferred).
Manuscript ID, Article DOI, or another relevant reference.
A detailed description of the complaint with supporting evidence.
Your relationship to the journal (author, reviewer, reader, editor, etc.).

Acknowledgment and Initial Review

The Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt of a complaint within five (5) business days. An initial assessment will determine whether the complaint falls within the journal's scope and whether further investigation is required.

Investigation and Decision

An independent editor or editorial panel not involved in the original decision will investigate the complaint.

Additional information may be requested from complainants, authors, reviewers, editors, or institutions.

Where appropriate, investigations follow COPE flowcharts and ethical guidance.

The journal aims to complete investigations within approximately six weeks, although complex cases may require additional time.

Outcome and Communication

The complainant will receive written notification of the investigation outcome and any corrective actions taken. Depending on the circumstances, these actions may include a correction, expression of concern, retraction, or improvements to editorial procedures.

Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the complaint process unless disclosure is required by law, institutional investigation, or ethical obligations.

Escalation Procedure

If the complainant is not satisfied with the journal's decision, the case may be referred to a senior Editorial Board member or to the Publisher for further review. When the matter cannot be resolved internally, complainants may seek guidance or mediation from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Record Keeping and Transparency

The journal maintains confidential records of all complaints, investigations, and editorial decisions. Aggregated statistics regarding complaints and their outcomes may be published periodically as part of the journal's transparency and accountability practices.

Ilomata International Journal of Tax and Accounting (IJTC) is committed to handling every complaint fairly, objectively, confidentially, and transparently in accordance with international publication ethics, COPE guidance, and the journal's editorial policies, thereby maintaining the integrity and credibility of the scholarly record.