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The Impact of Corporate Tax Avoidance on Board of Directors and CEO Reputation

Author

Listed:
  • Roman Lanis

    (University of Technology Sydney)

  • Grant Richardson

    (The University of Adelaide)

  • Chelsea Liu

    (The University of Adelaide)

  • Ross McClure

    (University of Technology Sydney)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of corporate tax avoidance on board of directors and chief executive officer (CEO) reputation. Our regression results show that when firms engage in tax avoidance, both directors and CEOs, on average, are rewarded by improvements in their reputations as proxied by an increased number of outside board seats. In particular, both independent directors and non-CEO executive directors undergo positive changes in reputation. We also find that CEOs of tax-aggressive firms experience enhanced reputations by gaining extra board seats. Our main regression results hold based on additional analyses. Overall, this study provides important empirical evidence confirming an association between tax avoidance and the individual reputations of directors and CEOs.

Suggested Citation

  • Roman Lanis & Grant Richardson & Chelsea Liu & Ross McClure, 2019. "The Impact of Corporate Tax Avoidance on Board of Directors and CEO Reputation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 463-498, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:160:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-018-3949-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-018-3949-4
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    2. García-Meca, Emma & Ramón-Llorens, Maria-Camino & Martínez-Ferrero, Jennifer, 2021. "Are narcissistic CEOs more tax aggressive? The moderating role of internal audit committees," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 223-235.
    3. Xi Zhong & Liuyang Ren & Ge Ren, 2023. "Performance shortfall, institutional logic and firms’ tax avoidance," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(4), pages 855-886, December.
    4. Huang, Zhen & Gao, Weiwei, 2022. "The effects of formal and informal CEO power on debt policy persistence," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    5. Chih-Liang Liu & Junmao Chiu, 2024. "External social networks and tax avoidance," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1459-1504, May.
    6. Athira, A. & Ramesh, Vishnu K., 2023. "COVID-19 and corporate tax avoidance: International evidence," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    7. Qiao, Lu & Adegbite, Emmanuel & Nguyen, Tam Huy, 2022. "Chief financial officer overconfidence and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Hidaya Al Lawati & Khaled Hussainey, 2021. "Do Overlapped Audit Committee Directors Affect Tax Avoidance?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Sarhan, Ahmed A. & Elmagrhi, Mohamed H. & Elkhashen, Emad M., 2024. "Corruption prevention practices and tax avoidance: The moderating effect of corporate board characteristics," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    10. C. S. Agnes Cheng & Jaehyeon Kim & Mooweon Rhee & Jian Zhou, 2022. "Time Orientation in Languages and Tax Avoidance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 625-650, October.
    11. Nirmala Devi Mohanadas, 2019. "A Theoretical Review on Corporate Tax Avoidance: Shareholder Approach versus Stakeholder Approach," GATR Journals jfbr160, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax avoidance; Corporate reputation; Board of directors; Chief executive officer (CEO);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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