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Capital Gains Taxes and the Realization of Capital Gains and Losses - Evidence from German Income Tax Data

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  • Martin Jacob

Abstract

This paper analyzes the influence of capital gains taxation on the decision to realize capital gains and losses when gains are tax-exempt after a certain holding period. Theory predicts that high marginal tax rates incentivize investors to realize taxable losses. In contrast, the propensity to realize taxable short-term capital gains decreases in the marginal tax rate. Using two stratified 10% random samples of all German income tax declarations filed in 2001 and 2004, the paper provides robust evidence for this prediction. The marginal tax rate has a significant and positive (negative) effect on the investor's propensity to realize capital losses (gains).

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Jacob, 2013. "Capital Gains Taxes and the Realization of Capital Gains and Losses - Evidence from German Income Tax Data," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 69(1), pages 30-56, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:finarc:urn:sici:0015-2218(201303)69:1_30:cgtatr_2.0.tx_2-7
    DOI: 10.1628/001522108X663460
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    Cited by:

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    2. Annika Hegemann & Angela Kunoth & Kristina Rupp & Caren Sureth-Sloane, 2017. "Hold or sell? How capital gains taxation affects holding decisions," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 571-603, July.
    3. He, Eric & Jacob, Martin & Vashishtha, Rahul & Venkatachalam, Mohan, 2022. "Does differential taxation of short-term relative to long-term capital gains affect long-term investment?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(1).
    4. José María Durán-Cabré & Alejandro Esteller-Moré & Mariona Mas-Montserrat, 2019. "Behavioural responses to the (re)introduction of wealth taxes. Evidence from Spain," Working Papers 2019/04, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    5. Hegemann, Annika & Kunoth, Angela & Rupp, Kristina & Sureth, Caren, 2015. "Impact of capital gains taxation on the holding period of investments under different tax systems," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 183, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    6. Buhlmann, Florian & Doerrenberg, Philipp & Voget, Johannes & Loos, Benjamin, 2020. "How do taxes affect the trading behavior of private investors? Evidence from individual portfolio data," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-047, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capital gains taxation; capital losses; capital gains; income tax; lock-in effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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