Relative Valuation of Alternative Methods of Tax Avoidance

Abstract

This paper examines the relative valuation of alternative methods of tax avoidance. Prior studies find that firm value is positively associated with overall measures of tax avoidance; I extend this research by providing evidence that investors distinguish between methods of tax reduction in their valuation of tax avoidance. My analyses suggest that the impact of tax avoidance on firm value varies with tax risk, permanence of tax savings, tax planning costs, implicit taxes and contrasts in disclosures of tax reduction in the financial statements. Tax avoidance resulting from stock option tax benefits is positively associated with firm value, accelerated depreciation is not associated with firm value and deferral of residual U.S. tax on foreign earnings is negatively associated with firm value. The discount on tax avoidance generated by residual tax deferral is limited to firms with a presence in a tax haven. The discount is also limited to tax avoidance revealed to investors through disclosure of the estimated residual tax, either through recognition of tax expense or disclosure of the residual U.S. tax liability on permanently reinvested earnings.