Corporate Tax Revenues Research Articles

Impact of Infrastructure Investment on Tax: Estimating Spillover Effects of the Kyushu High-Speed Rail Line in Japan on Regional Tax Revenue

This paper analyzes the impact of infrastructure investment on tax revenues and on the regional economy by studying the effect of the Kyushu high-speed rail line (shinkansen train) in Japan. The effects of the Kyushu high-speed rail line on the economy has often been debated. We estimated its impact in the Kyushu region by using the difference-in-difference method, and compared the tax revenues of regions along the railway line with other regions that were not affected by it. Our findings show a positive impact on the region’s tax revenue following the connection of the Kyushu rapid train with large cities such as Hiroshima and Osaka. Tax revenue in the region significantly increased during the construction in 1991–2003, and dropped after the start of operations in 2004–2010. The rapid train’s impact on the neighboring prefectures of Kyushu is positive. The difference-in-difference coefficient methods reveal that corporate tax revenue was lower than personal income tax revenue during construction. However, the difference in corporate tax revenues rose after connectivity with large cities was completed. The railway’s connectivity to large cities has a significant economic impact not only in the case of Japan but also in other cases such as Uzbekistan.

The Government Incentive Regulation Model and Pricing Mechanism in Power Transmission and Distribution Market

The power transmission and distribution (T&D) market’s natural monopoly and individual information have been the impediment to improving the energy efficiency in the whole T&D market. In order to improve the whole social welfare, T&D market should be controlled by government. An incentive regulation model with the target of maximizing social welfare has been studied. A list of contracts with transferring payment and quantity of T&D are given to motivate the corporation to reveal the true technical parameter and input the optimal investment. The corporate revenue, optimal investment, and effort are proved to depend on its own technical parameter. The part of incentive regulation model ends with the optimal pricing mechanism of T&D market. At the end of this paper, we give a numerical example to explain our research and confirm its function graphically.

The Diffusion and Dynamics of Producer Prices, Deflationary Pressure Across Asian Countries, and the Role of China

The ongoing producer price deflation in China and other Asian economies is a genuine concern. In particular, Chinai¯s producer prices are down a cumulative 12.7 percent from their peak in 2011, extending the stretch of negative producer price readings for 52 months in a row. Given the problem of overcapacity and heavy debt burden, this persistent decline in the producer price index could hurt corporate revenue, which limits fixed investments and the country's overall growth. Against this background, the paper analyses the determinants of the producer price decline across 11 Asian economies, and finds that the recent synchronous and protracted producer price deflation is driven by weak production growth, sharp declines in commodity prices, spillover effects from Chinai¯s producer price deflation and policy uncertainty and, to a lesser extent, exchange rate pass-through. Since China is at the heart of the regioni¯s producer price deflation challenge, we also discuss the necessary structural adjustments in China to cope with the decline and head off deflationary threats.

Tax Competition and its Consequences for Tax Revenue Structure in Developed Countries: Empirical Evidence Using Panel Cointegration Approach

The paper examines the long run changes in the tax revenue structure in developed countries. We are particularly focused on the testing of a potential shift from taxation on mobile tax bases to less mobile ones, which could be seen as one of the results of rising tax competition. We assume that a decrease in corporate tax revenues is compensated for by higher tax revenues from taxing work and property. Our dataset consists of panel date from 22 OECD countries within the period 1965 to 2012. We tested the potential causalities within the tax mix using Granger causality tests as well as the DOLS and FMOLS panel cointegration techniques in order to reveal possible long run causalities. As far as we know, these techniques have not before been used in this field. Long-run inverse causalities between corporate tax and personal tax revenue as well as corporate tax revenue and indirect taxes are found. Our results could have several important implications for the tax policies in developed countries.

The Effect of Profit Shifting on the Corporate Tax Base in the United States and Beyond

This paper estimates the effect of profit shifting on corporate tax base erosion for the United States. Using Bureau of Economic Analysis survey data on U.S. multinational corporations over the period 1983 to 2012, the analysis estimates the sensitivity of foreign incomes to tax burdens for major foreign direct investment destinations. Controlling for a host of other variables as well as country fixed effects, I find that taxable income is very sensitive to corporate tax rates. Estimates of tax sensitivity are used together with data on reported foreign income to calculate how much “extra” income is booked in low-tax countries due to profit shifting; I then estimate what the tax base would be in the United States without profit shifting. I find that profit shifting is likely costing the U.S. government between $77 and $111 billion in corporate tax revenue by 2012, and these revenue losses have increased substantially in recent years. These findings are consistent with the stylized facts about large quantities of income booked in tax havens. I also undertake a speculative extension of this analysis to other countries, finding that corporate tax base erosion is likely a large problem in countries that do not have low tax rates. The paper concludes with a discussion of suggested reforms.

How do corporate tax bases change when corporate tax rates change? With implications for the tax rate elasticity of corporate tax revenues

We construct a new database of extensive margin changes to multiple aspects of corporate tax bases for OECD countries between 1980 and 2004. We use our data to systematically document the tendency of countries to implement policies that both lower the corporate tax rate and broaden the corporate tax base. This correlation informs our interpretation of previous estimates of the relationship between corporate tax rates and corporate tax revenues, which typically do not include comprehensive measures of the corporate tax base definition. We then re-examine the relationship between corporate tax rates and corporate tax revenues. We find that accounting for unobserved heterogeneity attenuates the relationship between corporate tax rates and corporate tax revenues, and increases the implied revenue-maximizing tax rate. Controlling for our new tax base measures does not substantively impact the magnitude of this relationship.

Is Aggressive Tax Planning Socially Irresponsible?

In this article, the link between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and aggressive tax planning was considered, in the backdrop of recent parliamentary hearings and investigations over the aggressive tax planning of multinationals. It was questioned whether companies that engage in aggressive tax planning are indeed socially irresponsible. It was argued that it was a slippery slope for a country to expect to raise or increase corporate tax revenues from CSR. The international tax system is all about choices. A company should not be deemed socially irresponsible for benefitting from certain choices if those choices are available and there are no rules against them. It was, however, recognized that while it might be difficult to justify how the payment of full (or higher) taxes is a significant act of social responsibility, there could be business reasons for avoiding aggressive tax planning. Therefore, notwithstanding the lack of conclusive evidence on the point and the author’s belief that CSR should play no role on how a company conducts its tax affairs, it was conceded that CSR implications are likely to become very important in the whole debate. 6

Are the benefits of export support durable? Evidence from Tunisia

This paper evaluates the effects of the FAMEX export promotion program in Tunisia on the performance of beneficiary firms. While most studies assess only the short-term impact of such programs, we consider also the longer-term impact. Our estimates suggest that the average beneficiary initially saw both higher overall export levels and greater diversification across destinations and products. However, three years after the intervention, beneficiaries' export levels and diversification were no longer significantly different from those of a control group. Furthermore, the effects were heterogeneous across firms: small and large firms saw no positive impact on export levels, and even the positive impact on medium sized firms was temporary. The temporariness of the impact was not due to spillovers to non-beneficiary firms which helped them to catch up, or to greater exposure of beneficiaries to crisis-affected economies. Rather, the impact may be transient because the program did not lead to the enhancements in product quality or sophistication which could have strengthened competitiveness durably. Notwithstanding its transient effect, the relatively low-cost FAMEX still generated two Tunisian Dinars of private profits per Dinar of program expenditure, and the additional corporate tax revenue just covered the public cost of the program.

Financial Integration in the Asia-Pacific: Fact and Fiction

Australia’s financial connectedness with the Asia-Pacific region lags behind its deepening economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with the region, according to this report by the Australian Centre for Financial Studies. The report finds that while the Asia-Pacific region represents roughly two-thirds of Australia’s global trading relationships, it still accounts for less than one-third of Australia’s financial relationships. Australia’s financial services exports and two-way investment profile remain oriented toward the ‘traditional’ trading partners of the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand, even as four of Australia’s top five trading partners now lie in the Asia-Pacific. The report points out that financial services is the largest single industrial segment of the Australian economy, a major employer and the largest source of corporate tax revenue. The industry is also a major exporter – of a magnitude not often understood in the community. The value of Australia’s exports of financial services is in fact larger than the value of its tourism exports, and more than double the value of its education exports. High barriers to services trade and cross-border investment in Asia may be inhibiting Australian firms and investors from growing their connections with the region. This is likely to shift in 2015 with the gradual opening of China’s capital account; the realisation of a regionally-integrated ASEAN Economic Community; and the conclusion of three recent free trade agreements with China, Japan and South Korea. “All of these events will change the way in which the Australian financial system interacts with a rising Asia,” according to Amy Auster. A key finding of the report is that many aspects of financial integration are not well-researched or understood. The benefits and costs of financial integration have not been closely examined, and the data on trade in financial services is poor. Policymakers, regulators and practitioners lack a strong evidence base from which to make decisions of vital importance to the entire economy. Authors: Amy Auster, Deputy Director, and Martin Foo, Research Officer, of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies

Benefits of energy efficiency policies in Thailand: an ex-ante evaluation of the energy efficiency action plan

The paper presents the results of an ex-ante evaluation of the economy-wide benefits that may be achieved through the implementation of the 20-year Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) in Thailand. The objective of the EEAP is to reduce energy intensity by 25 % in 2030 compared to 2010. This is to be reached by reducing the projected energy consumption by 20 % or 38 Mtoe until 2030. We have specified an analytical framework, which allows for a calculation of the overall energy cost savings, energy import cost reductions and reduced CO2 emissions. Moreover, we calculated the induced energy efficiency investments, employment effects and impacts on governmental budget. The evaluation shows that an effective implementation of the plan may lead to a reduction in energy expenditure of 37.7 billion EUR by 2030. Moreover, the EEAP-induced energy savings will significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions as well as Thailand’s energy import costs and generate private investment in energy efficiency of about 5 billion EUR annually in 2030, which in turn may lead to about 300,000 new jobs. The size of the net impact of the plan on Thailand’s governmental budget is uncertain due to positive and negative effects on corporate and income tax revenues, expenses for unemployment benefits, governmental energy consumption, expenses for energy subsidies and energy tax income.

Fiscal Policy and Economic Inequality in the U.S. States

To what extent can state governments influence economic inequality? How do state fiscal policies of redistribution affect families in different economic situations? Using a large database of state fiscal policymaking tools (taxing and spending) between 1976 and 2006, we examine the effect of these tools on state-level inequality as well as the average incomes of families in different economic groups. We find that state taxing and spending efforts can influence these indicators of economic inequality, though these fiscal policy tools can have differential effects. Spending on unemployment compensation and cash assistance as well as revenue from taxes on corporations is found to reduce state-level inequality. We also find unemployment compensation to positively benefit the bottom 10th percentile of income earners, whereas the inheritance tax helps all income groups. Corporate tax revenue is associated with higher middle-class incomes, whereas income tax revenue benefits both middle and upper incomes. Sales tax revenue positively benefits wealthy earners. Higher property tax revenue is associated with decreased income for all groups. These results suggest that state governments can affect redistribution through fiscal policies by affecting state-level inequality as well as the economic fortunes of different income groups.

DOES FEDERAL DEDUCTIBILITY AFFECT STATE AND LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES?

This paper examines whether the change in federal deductibility of state and local sales taxes initiated by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 affected the distribution of state and local level revenue sources. Using data from the 2000–2008 Census Bureau State Government Tax Collections Survey, Annual Surveys of State and Local Government Finances, and Censuses of Governments, we find that federal sales tax deductibility led states to increase sales tax revenue per capita, and decrease individual income and corporate tax revenue per capita and decrease property taxes as a share of total taxes. We do not, however, find any statistically significant impacts on tax sources at the local level.

How Do Corporate Tax Bases Changes When Corporate Tax Rates Change? With Implications for the Tax Rate Elasticity of Corporate Revenues

We construct a new database of extensive margin changes to multiple aspects of corporate tax bases for OECD countries between 1980 and 2004. We use our data to systematically document the tendency of countries to implement policies that both lower the corporate tax rate and broaden the corporate tax base. This correlation informs our interpretation of previous estimates of the relationship between corporate tax rates and corporate tax revenues, which typically do not include comprehensive measures of the corporate tax base definition. We then re-examine the relationship between corporate tax rates and corporate tax revenues. We find that accounting for unobserved heterogeneity attenuates the relationship between corporate tax rates and corporate tax revenues, and increases the implied revenue-maximizing tax rate. Controlling for our new tax base measures does not substantively impact the magnitude of this relationship.

Dynamic Latent Class Model Averaging for Online Prediction

ABSTRACTWe consider the problem of online prediction when it is uncertain what the best prediction model to use is. We develop a method called dynamic latent class model averaging, which combines a state‐space model for the parameters of each of the candidate models of the system with a Markov chain model for the best model. We propose a polychotomous regression model for the transition weights to assume that the probability of a change in time depends on the past through the values of the most recent time periods and spatial correlation among the regions. The evolution of the parameters in each submodel is defined by exponential forgetting. This structure allows the ‘correct’ model to vary over both time and regions. In contrast to existing methods, the proposed model naturally incorporates clustering and prediction analysis in a single unified framework. We develop an efficient Gibbs algorithm for computation, and we demonstrate the value of our framework on simulated experiments and on a real‐world problem: forecasting IBM's corporate revenue. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Why Do Countries Mandate Accrual Accounting for Tax Purposes?

ABSTRACTThis study investigates why countries mandate accruals in the definition of corporate taxable income. Accruals alleviate timing and matching problems in cash flows, which smoothes taxable income and thus better aligns it with underlying economic performance. These accrual properties can be desirable in the tax setting as tax authorities seek more predictable corporate tax revenues. However, they can also make tax revenues procyclical by increasing the correlation between aggregate corporate tax revenues and aggregate economic activity. We argue that accruals shape the distribution of corporate tax revenues, which leads regulators to incorporate accruals into the definition of taxable income to balance the portfolio of government revenues and expenditures. Using a sample of 26 OECD countries, we find support for several theoretically motivated factors explaining the use of accruals in tax codes. We first provide evidence that corporate tax revenues are less volatile in high accrual countries, but high accrual countries collect relatively higher (lower) tax revenues when the corporate sector grows (contracts). Critically, we then show that accruals and smoother tax revenues are favored by countries with higher levels of government spending on public services and uncertain future expenditures, while countries with procyclical other tax collections favor cash rules and lower procyclicality of corporate tax revenues.

THE IMPACT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL MEDIA ON REVENUE AND PROFIT: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

The growing popularity of social media has fundamentally altered the business ecosystem where companies can no longer solely capture consumers attention via reach; instead, companies must focus on engaging consumers in product and service development and improvement. This exploratory study details how the corporate strategic use of social media relates to corporate revenue and profit among Fortune 500 corporations. The findings indicate that the proper corporate use of social media impacts positively the corporate revenue and profit; whereas the improper corporate use of social media affects negatively the corporate revenue and profit.

An approach to enterprise revenue forecasting as a decision support system

Successful competitions in the marketplace require the ability to make accurate management decisions, which often call for a decision support system. In the finance function of an enterprise, a significant portion of decision-making involves quarterly revenue forecasts and corresponding gap analyses updated on a weekly basis. This paper describes a statistical framework based on an enterprise quarterly revenue forecasting system that provides information directly relevant for management decision-making. This approach utilizes a statistical framework that can issue accurate metrics-based forecasts and can delineate the influences of specific business drivers. Some of the drivers may be acted on by the enterprise, while others may represent the business environment and are unactionable. Built on such a framework, analytics can be developed for specific business functionalities such as performance gap assessment, root-cause investigation, and possible action suggestions to achieve an objective. We demonstrate the value of our framework on a real-world problem: forecasting IBM's corporate revenue.

Lessons for International Tax Reform from the U.S. State Experience Under Formulary Apportionment

This work undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. state experience under formulary apportionment of corporate income. While formulary apportionment eliminates the possibility of shifting income across states through accounting strategies that manipulate where income is booked, it may heighten the tax responsiveness of formula factors. The present analysis uses the substantial variation in corporate tax policy decisions of U.S. states over the period 1986 to 2012 to better understand the consequences of formulary apportionment. It examines the effects of policy choices regarding tax rates, formula weights, and other parameters on economic activity, estimating the tax sensitivity of employment, investment, and sales. With the inclusion of adequate control variables, results indicate that economic activity is not particularly sensitive to U.S. state corporate tax policy choices, especially in recent years. Still, tax policy choices have important effects on corporate tax revenues. These results suggest important lessons regarding possible international adoption of formulary apportionment.

Tax Enforcement Policy and the Provision of Public Goods with the Presence of Tax Havens

AbstractA tax competition model is presented to investigate the effects of tax havens on the public good provision. We show that when countries facing a rise in tax havens change their tax enforcement strategies in response, the existence of tax havens may result in a higher level of equilibrium public good provision as compared to the case with no tax havens. Accordingly, tax havens could be welfare enhancing for non‐haven countries. This result offers a possible explanation for the recent empirical evidence that the corporate tax revenues in high‐tax countries have actually increased with the growth in the flow of foreign direct investment to tax havens.

Corporate Revenue Miscalculations & The Impact On Stakeholders

Corporate earnings restatements are regarded as one of the most significant issues in accounting today. While there are various factors that can influence profitability, revenue is the key contributor to a business net income. During the 2000s, a multitude of domestic and multinational corporations faced significant issues with their revenue recognition practices. Although the investing public might regard any revenue restatement as laden with possible fraud, this is not always the case. Multinational firms face dual accounting systems, such as U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Currently, similarities and differences between the accounting systems exist. However, key differences between GAAP and IFRS may cease to exist in upcoming years due to the Financial Accounting Standards Boards (FASBs) and the International Accounting Standards Boards (IASBs) joint effort to converge the two systems. Throughout this paper, examples of revenue miscalculations will be presented as well any penalties levied by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission against implicated corporations. Accordingly, the impact that revenue blunders have on shareholder wealth will be examined. Finally, the authors will present recommendations for mitigating revenue errors in the future.