Corporate Tax Research Articles

Gendered Taxation: IMF Tax Advice and the Unintended Disempowerment of Women

Case research points to the gendered effects of the value added tax (VAT), which may particularly disadvantage women by crowding out their economic participation. A key driver of VAT introductions has been the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To counterbalance of-payments woes, IMF advice for cash-stripped countries has frequently focused on shifting toward broad-based consumption taxes while lowering trade taxes and corporate income taxes. We expect this tax policy advice – while ostensibly gender-blind – to contribute in practice to a deterioration in women’s socioeconomic well-being. To test this hypothesis, we construct a panel dataset for 147 countries from 1980 to 2016 and estimate the effect of IMF programs on women’s economic participation, education and health. Accounting for selection effects, we find that women’s life chances deteriorate relative to men’s if a country undergoes an IMF program with tax conditionality. We corroborate these findings to demonstrate the mechanism underlying these effects by showing a negative effect of IMF-induced de jure VAT adoption on women’s life chances. We provide complementary individual-level evidence from the World Values Surveys based on 98 countries from 1981 to 2019. We show that during an IMF program with tax conditionality, women are significantly less satisfied with home life and report more material hardships. Our results provide evidence of the potential for unintended consequences of IMF revenue prescriptions for women, supporting calls for increased attention to gender-responsive budgeting.

The Incidence and Distributional Effects of the Corporate Income Tax: The Role of Rent Sharing

The Incidence and Distributional Effects of the Corporate Income Tax: The Role of Rent Sharing

Do stock prices affect corporate tax behavior?

Purpose This study aims to examine how firm-specific information in stock prices influences corporate tax behavior. Design/methodology/approach This study uses ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions to examine the association between stock price informativeness and effective tax rate (ETR) volatility. Findings Stock price informativeness is positively associated with short-term tax avoidance as measured by ETR volatility. Originality/value While prior research examines the association between market activity and the level of ETRs, this study examines other various aspects of tax behavior.

Tax System Optimization: A Comparative Analysis Between Personal Income Tax and Corporate Income Tax in Indonesia

This study adopts a qualitative approach to analyze the comparison between Personal Income Tax (PPh) and Corporate Income Tax (PPh Corporate) in Indonesia. Through literature studies and observations, this study explores the tariff structure, tax relief, and tax compliance level of the two tax systems. The economic implications of the implementation of Income Tax and Corporate Income Tax on economic growth, investment, and income distribution were also discussed. The findings show that tax reform, as stated in the Law on Harmonization of Tax Regulations (UU HPP), has a significant impact in improving the effectiveness and fairness of the tax system. The results of this study provide in-depth insights into the importance of appropriate tax policies to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Indonesia.

Recuperation mechanism of direct taxation to control post covid economic contraction: India’s new tax reform with crypto tax

This study explores the impact of the progressive tax structure on income equality, emphasizing the significance of direct taxes in promoting economic and social equality. It also examines the challenges faced by the Indian government in meeting its revenue targets due to the decline in corporation tax and personal income tax revenues. The present study assesses the role of the newly implemented tax by the Indian Finance Ministry on capital gains from the sale or purchase of cryptocurrencies and its impact on economic growth. A qualitative approach has been adopted, utilizing secondary information sources for characterization and analysis. The study relies on Time Series Data from the Income Tax Department for the financial years 2000-01 to 2018-19 and global estimates of total tax revenues published by the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD). The findings indicate that the substantial decline in direct tax revenues necessitated a search for alternative sources of income. The separate taxation system for cryptocurrencies has legitimized digital assets and enabled the government to monitor transactions and capital gains. The introduction of the "Digital Rupee" aims to enhance the digital economy through efficient currency management. This research highlights the need for policymakers to develop a well-defined regulatory framework for cryptocurrency taxation. Clear regulations on cryptocurrency taxation and the "Digital Rupee" could help India boost its digital economy while ensuring better monitoring of crypto transactions and revenues.

The Subject-to-Tax Rule in East Africa: Is it Worth it?

The two-pillar approach focusses on BEPS issues in developing countries to a greater extent than preceding OECD agreements. In particular, the Subject-to-Tax Rule (STTR) is intended to address BEPS risks in low-income countries’ tax treaties. BEPS is undoubtedly a critical issue in East Africa since corporate income tax is an unusually important source of tax revenue in Africa. This article analyses the STTR alongside treaties and domestic law to understand the likely impact of the rule in the region. It also considers the diverse domestic policy landscapes to explore whether the STTR is an attractive measure for countries in East Africa. The author believes that implementation of the rule will be complex, challenging already stretched tax administrations. Furthermore, some low-income countries may prefer not to engage with reforms that increase source taxation. The analysis concludes that any hopes that the STTR will mark a major step in addressing BEPS in this part of the world are likely to be disappointed, but it could form part of a portfolio of measures for some specific countries.

The Subject-to-Tax Rule in East Africa: Is It Worth It?

The two-pillar approach focusses on BEPS issues in developing countries to a greater extent than preceding OECD agreements. In particular, the Subject-to-Tax Rule (STTR) is intended to address BEPS risks in low-income countries’ tax treaties. BEPS is undoubtedly a critical issue in East Africa since corporate income tax is an unusually important source of tax revenue in Africa. This article analyses the STTR alongside treaties and domestic law to understand the likely impact of the rule in the region. It also considers the diverse domestic policy landscapes to explore whether the STTR is an attractive measure for countries in East Africa. The author believes that implementation of the rule will be complex, challenging already stretched tax administrations. Furthermore, some low-income countries may prefer not to engage with reforms that increase source taxation. The analysis concludes that any hopes that the STTR will mark a major step in addressing BEPS in this part of the world are likely to be disappointed, but it could form part of a portfolio of measures for some specific countries.

A macroeconomic perspective on taxing multinational enterprises

We develop a general-equilibrium model to study the macroeconomic consequences of international profit shifting by multinational enterprises (MNEs). In our model, MNEs shift profits by exploiting intangible capital transfer pricing rules, which makes intangible investment more attractive and leads to higher output at home and abroad. We use the model to quantify the effects of two reforms proposed by the OECD: (i) reallocating MNEs’ profit tax bases to the countries where they sell their products; and (ii) a minimum global corporate income tax. Both reforms would reduce profit shifting substantially, but (i) would reduce global output whereas (ii) would have little macroeconomic impact. The reforms’ distributional implications would also be important. In high-tax countries, tax revenues would increase more than output declines, raising gross national income and enabling redistribution that could offset lower wages. In contrast, output and tax revenues would both drop in low-tax countries, significantly reducing national income.

Downward Revision of Investment Decisions after Corporate Tax Hikes

This paper estimates the causal effect of corporate tax hikes on firm investment based on more than 1,400 local tax changes. By observing planned and realized investment volumes in a representative sample of German manufacturing firms, we can study how tax hikes induce firms to revise their investment decisions. On average, the share of firms that invest less than previously planned increases by 3 percentage points after a tax hike. This effect is twice as large during recessions. (JEL D22, E32, G31, H25, H32, H71, L60)

Scaling Up Tax Strategies: Investigating the Moderating Effect of Leverage on Firm Size, Asset Intensity, and Tax Management

This study examines the relationships between firm size, asset intensity, leverage, and tax management in Indonesian manufacturing companies. Utilizing a panel data approach from 2020 to 2022, the research finds that firm size and asset intensity significantly influence tax management practices, highlighting larger firms' advantages in implementing effective tax strategies. Conversely, leverage does not significantly mediate the relationship between firm size or asset intensity and tax management. These findings suggest that while asset intensity provides firms with opportunities to optimize tax deductions, the impact of leverage on tax management strategies is limited. The research underscores the importance of understanding these dynamics for business leaders aiming to enhance tax efficiency and compliance. Additionally, the study provides practical recommendations for firms and policymakers to improve tax management practices in the manufacturing sector. Overall, the research contributes valuable insights into the factors affecting corporate tax strategies in Indonesia.

Corporate Tax Planning: Making Sense of Canada's Clean Energy Investment Tax Credits

Corporate Tax Planning: Making Sense of Canada's Clean Energy Investment Tax Credits

Intra-Group Financing: Analysis of the Coexistence of the Arm’s Length Principle with the General Anti-Abuse Rules

The deduction of interest expenses for corporate tax purposes has attracted the attention of tax policymakers and multinational enterprises owing to concerns about base erosion and profit shifting. Prior to the transposition by Member States of the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive that established a minimum standard, national rules to limit the tax deduction of interest expenses and anti-abuse rules to tackle perceived aggressive tax planning lacked uniformity and consistency at EU level. This resulted in legal disputes, especially in cross-border intra-group financing cases when transfer pricing based on the arm’s length principle is also applied. The Court of Justice of the European Union has set general guidelines and an interpretative framework. However, the opinion of the Advocate General in the X BV case (C-585/22), suggesting a departure from the Lexel case (C-484/19), raises significant concerns. In the authors’ opinion, this approach could lead to an overreaching application of the GAAR even to arrangements subject to the arm’s length principle that, based on economic rationality and substance, is intended to treat in the same way cross-border intra-group and third-party structures and transactions.

The impact of asset specificity on corporate tax avoidance: Do financial constraints and product market power matter?

Our findings reveal that asset specificity significantly enhances corporate tax avoidance, with firms exhibiting lower cash effective tax rates. Firms with higher asset specificity also engage in more aggressive tax avoidance strategies, including tax dodging and long-term tax planning. Additionally, our analysis indicates that the positive impact of asset specificity on tax avoidance is less pronounced in firms with lower ESG performance but is more pronounced in those facing negative demand shocks or operating during periods of economic policy uncertainty. We also find that financial constraints and product market power mediate the relationship between asset specificity and tax avoidance, with financial constraints serving as the dominant economic channel. These findings offer new insights into the factors driving corporate tax avoidance and highlight the complex interplay between asset specificity, financial constraints, product market power, and tax planning strategies.

The Guarantee Function of Transfer PricingDocumentation and Its Role in Tax Risk Management

The article discusses the crucial role of transfer pricing documentation in the operations and taxation of entitiesengaged in transactions with related parties. It includes an analysis of the guarantee function of transfer pricingdocumentation, which involves providing tax authorities with information to assess the market nature of transactionsand protect taxpayers from challenging the terms of these transactions. The mechanisms of this documentation,its practical application, and the benefits it brings to taxpayers are also discussed. The article presentsexamples from the case law of administrative courts and analyzes the regulations on transfer pricing in corporateincome tax.

Impact of sports sponsorship on early career athlete performance: Czech case study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between sponsorship and the performance and development of early career athletes transitioning from junior level to professional sports, because this issue has not been fully explored in the Czech Republic. The reason is the almost absolute absence of financial or material support for such early-career athletes, when their transition from junior categories and the entire junior category is almost always exclusively financed and supported by their parents and families. We also emphasise the absolute absence of legislative provisions that would give supporters of such athletes at least a tax or other advantage. The research is based on research of Cardenas (2023), Hong and Fraser (2023) and Moolman and Shuttleworth (2023) and aims to assess how financial and material support provided by sponsors can enhance an athlete’s performance and long-term career trajectory. A mixed method approach was adopted, combining quantitative analysis through surveys and performance data with qualitative interviews. Data from 173 early career athletes from various disciplines were analysed using t-tests and ANOVA statistical methods to assess financial stability, access to better training, and community participation. Results indicate that sponsorship significantly contributes to better performance metrics, with sponsored athletes showing a 20% improvement in competition results compared to nonsponsored athletes. Furthermore, sponsorship financial support improved training opportunities and access to elite facilities, which was shown to increase athletes’ performance by 15%. However, some challenges related to sponsorship obligations, such as marketing commitments, were highlighted by athletes, underscoring the pressures that sponsorship can introduce. The implications of this study suggest that effective sponsorship strategies can play a vital role in an athlete’s career development, offering not only financial stability but also opportunities for personal branding and increased community engagement. Another implication is a possible consideration for legislators in the context of preparing a legislative framework enabling tax or other benefits for companies and organisations sponsoring or supporting these young athletes. More research is recommended to explore the long-term impact of sponsorship on athlete mental health and career sustainability, as well as the differences in sponsorship effects across various sports disciplines.

Does Firm Size Buffer Tax Aggressiveness? Examining Financial Distress and Capital Intensity

This study investigates the relationships between financial distress, capital intensity, and tax aggressiveness, focusing on the moderating role of firm size. Utilizing a sample of property and real estate companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2021 to 2023, the research employs quantitative methods to analyze the influence of financial distress and capital intensity on tax aggressiveness. The findings reveal that financial distress significantly increases tax aggressiveness, indicating that firms facing economic challenges are more likely to pursue aggressive tax strategies to enhance their cash flow. Additionally, capital intensity is positively associated with tax aggressiveness, as firms leverage their capital assets for potential tax benefits. However, the study finds that firm size does not significantly moderate the relationships between financial distress or capital intensity and tax aggressiveness, suggesting that the effects of these variables are consistent across different firm sizes. These results underscore the complex dynamics of corporate tax behavior and highlight the need for firms to carefully consider their tax strategies in the context of financial conditions and capital structure. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of tax aggressiveness in emerging markets and provides implications for corporate managers and policymakers regarding tax planning and regulation

The Impact of Cryptocurrency Exposure on Corporate Tax Avoidance Among US Listed Companies

This study examined the association between corporate cryptocurrency activities and tax avoidance outcomes, utilizing data from US public firms covering the period from 2015 to 2023. Financial data were sourced from Compustat, while details regarding cryptocurrency activities were manually extracted from 10-K and 10-Q filings. Our analysis employed a fixed-effects regression model to examine the impact of these activities on cash effective tax rates (ETR). The findings indicate that firms engaged in cryptocurrency activities tend to have a lower ETR compared with those without such involvement. Notably, this effect was predominantly observed in companies directly engaged in cryptocurrency activities, such as accepting cryptocurrency as a payment method or actively trading cryptocurrency on an exchange platform. In contrast, firms involved in crypto mining or initial coin offerings did not exhibit a similar association. Our findings offer significant regulatory insights for governance bodies concerned with the implications of corporate cryptocurrency activities on tax strategies.

Pengaruh debt to equity ratio (DER), long-term debt to asset ratio (LDAR), dan discretionary accrual terhadap pajak penghasilan badan terutang (Studi pada perusahaan jasa transportasi dan logistik di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode 2019-2023)

This study aims to examine the significant effects of the debt to equity ratio (DER), long-term debt to asset ratio (LDAR), and discretionary accrual on corporate income tax payable in transportation and logistics sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2019–2023 period. The study employs a quantitative approach with purposive sampling, resulting in a sample of 11 companies from a total population of 37 companies. Data analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression analysis with the assistance of IBM SPSS 26 software. The results indicate that, partially, the debt to equity ratio (DER) has a positive and significant effect, the long-term debt to asset ratio (LDAR) has no significant effect, while discretionary accrual has a negative and significant effect on corporate income tax payable. Simultaneously, the debt to equity ratio (DER), long-term debt to asset ratio (LDAR), and discretionary accrual have a significant impact on corporate income tax payable.

Country-by-Country reporting, corporate tax avoidance, and supply chain structure: A bunching analysis based on income manipulation by Chinese multinational corporations

Due to the endogeneity issue arising from the voluntary manipulation of MNCs own operating income, we employed bunching analysis to investigate the impact of Country-by-Country reporting(CbCR) on tax avoidance behavior of Chinese multinational corporations. The study found that multinational corporations' operating income exhibited bunching at 5.5 billion RMB. Within the bunching interval, the distribution of actual-value enterprises was 111 % higher than that of counterfactual enterprises, with an elasticity of 0.0359. Tax avoidance by multinational corporations significantly decreased within the manipulation interval, leading to a noticeable increase in taxable amounts. A series of robustness tests confirmed the validity of the above conclusions. This suggests that CbCR could serve as an important policy tool to combat tax base erosion and profit shifting. Furthermore, CbCR led Chinese multinational corporations to increase their investment scale while reducing profit shifting, but also resulted in a decrease in employment and a more concentrated supply chain structure. Careful evaluation is needed regarding the future expansion of the scope and target users of CbCR.

CORPORATE TAX AGGRESSIVENESS RESEARCH LANDSCAPE: BIBLIOMETRIC MAPPING

The self-assessment mechanism in Indonesia allows companies to independently calculate and report their tax liabilities, potentially encouraging aggressive tax practices. This study aims to identify research trends, main themes, and key factors in Corporate Tax Aggressiveness from 2014 to 2024. The method involved searching for research articles with the keyword "Tax Aggressiveness" in international journals indexed by Scopus, national journals indexed by Sinta through the Garuda website, and national journals using Publish or Perish, resulting in 400 articles. These articles were analyzed using the VOSviewer application. This research utilizes bibliometric analysis to map Corporate Tax Aggressiveness trends over the past decade. The results show a significant annual increase in publications, with VOSviewer identifying 5 clusters and 56 items related to Corporate Tax Aggressiveness research. The study concludes that academic interest in Corporate Tax Aggressiveness is growing, highlighting the importance of this topic in tax literature. The recommendation is to use the identified factors in future research on tax aggressiveness.