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Corporate social responsibility, firm performance and tax risk

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaojun Lin
  • Ming Liu
  • Simon So
  • Desmond Yuen

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) can lower tax risk. Previous studies have demonstrated a negative link between CSR and tax aggressiveness. Generally, corporations engaging in social irresponsibility tend to undertake aggressive tax planning; whereas socially responsible firms enjoy tax savings. Because several recent studies have suggested that lower tax payments do not necessarily create higher tax risk, an exploration of the relationship between CSR and tax risk was not only interesting but also important. Design/methodology/approach - Using an ethical perspective of CSR, this paper argues that executives who are nourished by an ethical climate tend to make responsible and reliable operating decisions. Therefore, their corporations would have better control of tax administration, and the corresponding tax risk would be constrained. Such corporations would enjoy greater tax savings while keeping their tax risk at relatively low levels. However, this reasoning ignores the fact that limited economic resources would constrain a firm from practicing CSR in the form of donations. This situation would also influence its attitude toward tax strategies. Specifically, when a firm’s performance is unsatisfactory, the cultural effect of CSR may diminish or even disappear. Findings - Firms donating additional resources to CSR activities can construct a more ethical work climate that encourages executives to control tax risk while lowering tax expenses. For firms with unsatisfactory performance, the ethical benefits of CSR could disappear, thus suggesting a relationship with firm performance. This finding contributes to the knowledge on the ethical implications of CSR and proposes that the culture argument is conditional on satisfactory firm performance. Originality/value - This study explores the association between corporate culture (CSR) and tax risk. The empirical results help shareholders, analysts and other investors to make their business decision better because CSR or corporate culture is less likely to change suddenly or dramatically in an abbreviated time. The finding of this study shed light on the importance of corporate culture on making an investment evaluation or decision. In addition, this study extends the research on CSR by demonstrating that the effects of CSR are conditioned on firm performance. The beneficial effect of CSR on tax risk would disappear when firms have unfavorable financial performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaojun Lin & Ming Liu & Simon So & Desmond Yuen, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility, firm performance and tax risk," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(9), pages 1101-1130, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:majpps:maj-04-2018-1868
    DOI: 10.1108/MAJ-04-2018-1868
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Velte, 2022. "Meta-analyses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): a literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 627-675, September.
    2. Sonia Boukattaya & Zyed Achour & Zeineb Hlioui, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Financial Performance: An Empirical Literature Review," Post-Print hal-03472433, HAL.
    3. Manuela Gomez‐Valencia & Maria Alejandra Gonzalez‐Perez & Ana Maria Gomez‐Trujillo, 2021. "The “Six Ws” of sustainable development risks," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3131-3144, November.
    4. Sandra Aulia & Haula Rosdiana & Inayati Inayati, 2022. "Trust, Power, and Tax Risk into the “Slippery Slope”: A Corporate Tax Compliance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Habib Saragih, Arfah & Ali, Syaiful & Suwardi, Eko & Utomo, Hargo, 2024. "Finding the missing pieces to an optimal corporate tax savings: Information technology governance and internal information quality," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    6. Arfah Habib Saragih & Syaiful Ali, 2023. "Corporate tax risk: a literature review and future research directions," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(2), pages 527-577, June.
    7. Wu, Zihao & Gao, Jun & Luo, Chengdi & Xu, Hui & Shi, Guanqun, 2024. "How does boardroom diversity influence the relationship between ESG and firm financial performance?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 713-730.
    8. María Iborra & Marta Riera, 2023. "Corporate social irresponsibility: What we know and what we need to know," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1421-1439, May.
    9. Jia Meng & ZhongXiang Zhang, 2022. "Corporate Environmental Information Disclosure and Investor Response: Empirical Evidence from China's Capital Market," Working Papers 2022.03, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    10. Andrzej Janowski, 2020. "Philanthropy and the Contribution of Andrew Carnegie to Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-26, December.
    11. Tianli Feng & Fan Yang & Biao Tan & Jihong Wu, 2022. "Corporate Social Irresponsibility Punishments from Stakeholders—Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.

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    Keywords

    CSR; Firm performance; Tax risk;
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