IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jbecon/v90y2020i2d10.1007_s11573-019-00943-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effect of simplified cash accounting on tax and financial accounting compliance costs

Author

Listed:
  • Kay Blaufus

    (Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institute of Business Taxation)

  • Franziska Hoffmann

    (Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institute of Business Taxation)

Abstract

In many countries simplified methods for tax accounting are considered as important step to reduce tax complexity and thereby the compliance cost burden of particularly small businesses. Using two surveys among (1) small businesses and (2) tax advisors, this study examines the effect of cash-based versus accrual accounting on tax and financial accounting compliance cost. While the results of the first study are ambiguous, the second study shows that cash-based accounting is associated with a decrease of external compliance costs of small firms by about 30%. This relative benefit decreases slightly with the size of the business. However, we do not find that the usage of cash-based accounting reduces the demand for professional tax advice.

Suggested Citation

  • Kay Blaufus & Franziska Hoffmann, 2020. "The effect of simplified cash accounting on tax and financial accounting compliance costs," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 90(2), pages 173-205, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:90:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11573-019-00943-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-019-00943-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11573-019-00943-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11573-019-00943-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kay Blaufus & Frank Hechtner & Janine K. Jarzembski, 2019. "The Income Tax Compliance Costs of Private Households: Empirical Evidence from Germany," Public Finance Review, , vol. 47(5), pages 925-966, September.
    2. Joel Slemrod & Nikki Sorum, 1984. "The Compliance Cost of the U.S. Individual Income Tax System," NBER Working Papers 1401, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. B. Schoonjans & P. Van Cauwenberge & C. Reekmans & G. Simoens, 2011. "A survey on tax compliance costs of Flemish SMEs: Magnitude and determinants," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 11/707, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    4. Sören M. Bergner & Jost H. Heckemeyer, 2017. "Simplified Tax Accounting and the Choice of Legal Form," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 581-601, July.
    5. Dechow, Patricia M., 1994. "Accounting earnings and cash flows as measures of firm performance : The role of accounting accruals," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 3-42, July.
    6. Igor Goncharov & Martin Jacob, 2014. "Why Do Countries Mandate Accrual Accounting for Tax Purposes?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(5), pages 1127-1163, December.
    7. Kennedy, Peter E, 1981. "Estimation with Correctly Interpreted Dummy Variables in Semilogarithmic Equations [The Interpretation of Dummy Variables in Semilogarithmic Equations]," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 71(4), pages 801-801, September.
    8. Sebastian Eichfelder & Michael Schorn, 2012. "Tax Compliance Costs: A Business-Administration Perspective," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 68(2), pages 191-230, June.
    9. repec:awi:wpaper:0459 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Sebastian Eichfelder & François Vaillancourt, 2014. "Tax Compliance Costs: A Review of Cost Burdens and Cost Structures," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 210(3), pages 111-148, September.
    11. SOEP Group, 2001. "The German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) after More than 15 Years: Overview," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 70(1), pages 7-14.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kay Blaufus & Frank Hechtner & Janine K. Jarzembski, 2019. "The Income Tax Compliance Costs of Private Households: Empirical Evidence from Germany," Public Finance Review, , vol. 47(5), pages 925-966, September.
    2. Eichfelder, Sebastian & Hechtner, Frank, 2016. "Tax compliance costs: Cost burden and cost reliability," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 212, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    3. Neba Bhalla & Rakesh Kumar Sharma & Inderjit Kaur, 2023. "Effect of Goods and Service Tax System on Business Performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    4. Sebastian Eichfelder & Kerstin Schneider, 2014. "Tax Incentives and Business Investment: Evidence from German Bonus Depreciation," CESifo Working Paper Series 4805, CESifo.
    5. Sofie De Schoenmaker & Philippe Van Cauwenberge & Heidi Vander Bauwhede, 2014. "Effects of local fiscal policy on firm profitability," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(16), pages 1289-1306, December.
    6. Felix Bransch & Paul Gurr, 2019. "Die Nachfrage nach Steuerberatungsleistungen: Evidenz für deutsche Steuerpflichtige [The Demand for Tax Preparation Services: Evidence from German Taxpayers]," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 71(3), pages 245-270, November.
    7. Eichfelder, Sebastian & Knaisch, Jonas & Schneider, Kerstin, 2023. "How does bonus depreciation affect real investment? Effect size, asset structure, and tax planning," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 278, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    8. Dobbins, Laura & Eichfelder, Sebastian & Hechtner, Frank & Hundsdoerfer, Jochen, 2018. "Intertemporal income shifting around a large tax cut: The case of depreciations," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 229, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    9. Eichfelder, Sebastian & Schneider, Kerstin, 2018. "How do tax incentives affect business investment? Evidence from German bonus depreciation," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 231, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    10. Laura Dobbins & Sebastian Eichfelder & Frank Hechtner & Jochen Hundsdoerfer, 2018. "Intertemporal Income Shifting Around a Large Tax Cut: the Case of Depreciations," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 70(4), pages 313-340, November.
    11. Eichfelder, Sebastian, 2013. "Compliance cost estimates: Survey non-response and temporal framing effects," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 146, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    12. Bradley Blaylock & Bradley P. Lawson & Michael A. Mayberry, 2020. "Taxable income, future profitability, and stock returns," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(7-8), pages 858-881, July.
    13. Deshuai Hou & Luhan Shi & Hong He & Jian Xiong, 2023. "Research on the Deviation of Corporate Green Behaviour under Economic Policy Uncertainty Based on the Perspective of Green Technology Innovation in Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-27, May.
    14. Velma Zahirovic-Herbert & Karen M Gibler, 2022. "The effect of film production studios on housing prices in Atlanta, the Hollywood of the South," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(4), pages 771-788, March.
    15. Manganaris, Panayotis & Beccalli, Elena & Dimitropoulos, Panagiotis, 2017. "Bank transparency and the crisis," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 121-137.
    16. Pavol Durana & Lucia Michalkova & Andrej Privara & Josef Marousek & Milos Tumpach, 2021. "Does the life cycle affect earnings management and bankruptcy?," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 12(2), pages 425-461, June.
    17. Su, Steve Yu Shuo, 2005. "To match or not to match?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 1-21.
    18. Garcia-Blandon, Josep & Argiles-Bosch, Josep Maria & Castillo-Merino, David & Martinez-Blasco, Monica, 2017. "An Assessment of the Provisions of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 on Non-audit Services and Audit Firm Tenure: Evidence from Spain," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 251-261.
    19. Bouët, Antoine & Elbehri, Aziz & Nguyen, Duc Bao & Traoré, Fousseini, 2022. "Measuring Agricultural Trade Integration in Southeast Asia," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 37(2), pages 235-266.
    20. Sebastian Eichfelder & Mona Lau, 2015. "Capitalization of capital gains taxes: (In)attention and turn-of-the-year returns," FEMM Working Papers 150019, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cash-based accounting; Accrual accounting; Tax complexity; Tax simplification;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:90:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11573-019-00943-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.