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Taxes and Financial Reporting: Evidence from Discretionary Investment Write-Offs in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Giampaolo Arachi
  • Valeria Bucci

Abstract

This paper provides further empirical evidence on the relationship between taxes and financial reporting by focusing on accounting decisions to write-offs equity investments. The analysis is based on panel data for Italian companies. In the period 1998-2006 the Italian corporate income tax has been reformed several times. In particular the tax deductibility of write-offs of equity investment was repealed in 2004. The paper exploits the ensuing high cross-sectional and times series variation in the marginal tax rate to identify tax effects. The econometric analysis delivers strong evidence that taxes affect the probability of write-offs. In contrast there is no evidence that taxes affect the magnitude of the write-offs. The paper also tests for the existence of a trade-off between tax minimization and non tax costs such as financial reporting costs and agency costs. Surprisingly, the evidence of such trade-off is rather weak.

Suggested Citation

  • Giampaolo Arachi & Valeria Bucci, 2010. "Taxes and Financial Reporting: Evidence from Discretionary Investment Write-Offs in Italy," CESifo Working Paper Series 3261, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3261
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. MacKie-Mason, Jeffrey K, 1990. "Do Taxes Affect Corporate Financing Decisions?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 45(5), pages 1471-1493, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate taxation; write-offs of equity investments; financial reporting; tax planning;
    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
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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