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Acceptable levels of tax risk as a metric of corporate tax responsibility: theory, and a survey of practice

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  • Quentin Clair

    (Queen Mary University of London London, United Kingdom)

Abstract

Prescribed levels of acceptable tax risk are increasingly used to articulate degrees of corporate tax responsibility, but the theoretical basis for doing so is not well established. This article (i) develops a theory of the relationship between tax risk and tax responsibility and (ii) shows that acceptable levels of tax risk could be used as a meaningful metric for these purposes, provided that the filing positions a n ticipated from proposed planning are reviewed against the prescribed level of acceptable risk without taking into account any mitigation of the risk factors that are introduced by the planning. Further, the article reviews the evolving tax risk policies of 20 large European companies, showing that while some progress is being made towards meaningful discourse, even the companies with the most well-developed policies are still making their claims in such a way as to conflate socially responsible tax behavior with diligence in implementing antisocial tax behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Quentin Clair, 2019. "Acceptable levels of tax risk as a metric of corporate tax responsibility: theory, and a survey of practice," Nordic Tax Journal, Sciendo, vol. 2019(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:notajo:v:2019:y:2019:i:1:p:1-15:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/ntaxj-2019-0001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Prem Sikka, 2010. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3-4), pages 153-168, September.
    2. Sikka, Prem, 2010. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 153-168.
    3. Roman Lanis & Grant Richardson, 2012. "Corporate social responsibility and tax aggressiveness: a test of legitimacy theory," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 26(1), pages 75-100, December.
    4. Hasseldine, John & Morris, Gregory, 2013. "Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance: A comment and reflection," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 1-14.
    5. John Hasseldine & Gregory Morris, 2013. "Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance: A comment and reflection," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 1-14, March.
    6. Knuutinen Reijo, 2014. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Taxation and Aggressive Tax Planning," Nordic Tax Journal, Sciendo, vol. 2014(1), pages 36-75, May.
    7. Ylönen, Matti & Laine, Matias, 2015. "For logistical reasons only? A case study of tax planning and corporate social responsibility reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 5-23.
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    Cited by:

    1. Finér Lauri, 2022. "Who generated the loopholes? A case study of corporate tax advisors’ regulatory capture over anti-tax avoidance legislation in Finland," Nordic Tax Journal, Sciendo, vol. 2022(1), pages 1-26, December.

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