An International Investigation of the Influence of Dividend Taxation on Research and Development Tax Credits

Abstract

This paper examines the ability of the research and development (R&D) tax credit to stimulate corporate R&D investment by considering it in the context of different forms of taxation for dividends. Many countries use an imputation system to eliminate the double tax on dividends found in a classical system. Using an international sample, we compare firms from different tax regimes that invest in R&D. The tax regime of interest offers both an R&D tax credit and an imputation credit for dividends. We develop a system of equations to estimate the companies' R&D expense and dividend payout. The primary result from the estimation is that firms operating in a tax regime that encourages both R&D and increased dividend payments spend less on R&D as they pay more in dividends. This inverse relation is greater than the inverse relation found between dividends and R&D in the full sample. We conclude that the effect of an R&D tax credit on private R&D spending depends on both the firms' commitment to dividend payments and the tax treatment of dividends.