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The Impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on U.S. Multinationals' Intangible Assets

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  • Ana Maria Santacreu
  • Ashley Stewart

Abstract

This article investigates the impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on the intangibles of U.S. multinationals. We develop a theoretical model that incorporates key provisions of the TCJA—Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) and Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII)—and derive testable implications for changes in licensing and patent transfer patterns. Using data on international royalty flows and patent assignments, we test the model’s predictions. Our findings suggest that the TCJA may have impacted profit-shifting strategies through intangibles, aligning with our model’s predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Maria Santacreu & Ashley Stewart, 2025. "The Impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on U.S. Multinationals' Intangible Assets," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 107(4), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedlrv:99730
    DOI: 10.20955/r.2025.04
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    1. Karkinsky, Tom & Riedel, Nadine, 2012. "Corporate taxation and the choice of patent location within multinational firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 176-185.
    2. Gabriel Chodorow-Reich & Matthew Smith & Owen Zidar & Eric Zwick, 2024. "Tax Policy and Investment in a Global Economy," Working Papers 328, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    3. William G. Gale & Claire Haldeman, 2021. "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Searching for Supply-Side Effects," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 74(4), pages 895-914.
    4. Jesse LaBelle & Ana Maria Santacreu, 2023. "Global Profit Shifting through Intellectual Property and the Impact of US Tax Reforms," Economic Synopses, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, issue 10, pages 1-2, May.
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    7. Kimberly A. Clausing, 2024. "US International Corporate Taxation after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 89-112, Summer.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; multinational corporations; intangibles; patents; licensing; royalties;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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