Abstract

SYNOPSIS The Medical Device Excise Tax (MDET) enacted a 2.3 percent tax on domestic sales of certain medical devices. Medical device firms suggested the tax would reduce profitability, leading to cuts in employees, research and development, and capital expenditures. However, we find that medical device firms engaged in more income tax avoidance in response to the MDET. Furthermore, medical device firms with high income tax avoidance made no significant cuts to investment spending or employees, whereas firms with low income tax avoidance significantly decreased investment spending and employees. Our findings suggest that some medical device firms used income tax avoidance as a substitute for reducing investment spending. Our results serve to inform both researchers and policymakers regarding the interplay between non-income taxes and income tax avoidance.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.