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Corporation tax asymmetries: effective tax rates and profit shifting

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  • John Creedy
  • Norman Gemmell

Abstract

This paper examines the way in which the asymmetric treatment of losses within corporate tax codes can be expected to affect behavioural responses to changes in tax rates. The paper introduces the concept of an equivalent tax function, raising the same present value of tax payments as the actual function, in which the effective rate on losses in any period, and thus the degree of asymmetry, is explicit. The influence on the elasticity of tax revenue with respect to the tax rate of this effective rate is then examined, where ‘loss-shifting’ occurs. Results suggest that estimates of the behavioural effect of changes in tax rates on tax revenues can be expected in general to be smaller in regimes that involve greater asymmetries in the tax treatment of losses. As losses vary over the economic cycle, asymmetric treatment also generates effects on tax revenues that are asymmetric (non-linear) between above-trend and below-trend parts of the cycle.
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Suggested Citation

  • John Creedy & Norman Gemmell, 2011. "Corporation tax asymmetries: effective tax rates and profit shifting," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 18(4), pages 422-435, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:itaxpf:v:18:y:2011:i:4:p:422-435
    DOI: 10.1007/s10797-011-9165-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Keser, Claudia & Kimpel, Gerrit & Oestreicher, Andreas, 2014. "The CCCTB option: An experimental study," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 199, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    2. Kalamov, Zarko Y. & Runkel, Marco, 2016. "On the implications of introducing cross-border loss-offset in the European Union," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 78-89.
    3. Lina Cui, 2013. "A Markov Chain Analysis on the Impact of German Tax Loss Offset Restrictions," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 32(1), pages 122-134, March.
    4. Claudia Keser & Gerrit Kimpel & Andreas Oestreicher, 2014. "The CCCTB option – an experimental study," CIRANO Working Papers 2014s-24, CIRANO.
    5. Keser, Claudia & Kimpel, Gerrit & Oestreicher, Andreas, 2014. "The CCCTB option an experimental study," VfS Annual Conference 2014 (Hamburg): Evidence-based Economic Policy 100490, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Claudia Keser & Gerrit Kimpel & Andreas Oestreicher, 2016. "Would a CCCTB mitigate profit shifting?," CIRANO Working Papers 2016s-29, CIRANO.
    7. Guo, Fenghua & Huo, Peiyun & Song, Hui & Zhang, Duolei & Zhou, Lei, 2024. "Does tax symmetry improve corporate innovation investment? Evidence from the change policy of loss carrying forward period in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 591-602.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporation tax; Tax asymmetries; Income shifting; Effective tax rate; H25; H32;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm

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