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Overhauling corporate taxation in the digital economy

Author

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  • Carpentieri, Loredana
  • Micossi, Stefano
  • Parascandolo, Paola

Abstract

Is the corporate income tax (CIT) still an efficient system for taxing companies today? The CIT was introduced when economies were characterised primarily by tangible assets and goods and by limited international trade. Globalisation, digitalisation and the increasing weight of immaterial goods in company transactions and balance sheets have rendered that system outdated. These radical changes call for equally radical reflections on how to reform the CIT, bearing in mind the need for a corporate tax system that is fit for both the digital and the traditional economy, in developing and developed countries alike. Rather than offering a complete solution, this paper discusses various approaches that could contribute to a solution. First, we suggest that the CIT base should always be strictly aligned with the accounting profit and loss account, eschewing special adjustments for tax purposes. Second, a more radical possibility would be to abandon altogether the reference to corporate income and tax companies instead on cash flow, based on destination. And, third, the possibility could also be explored to tax companies with reference to ‘presumptive’ indicators of activity, rather than on the basis of public accounts. Presumptive indicators are already used in federal systems to allocate corporate income among decentralised jurisdictions. These propositions would not be viable without international agreement, at least at the level of the European Union. Such an agreement may prove difficult given the conflicts of interest between EU member states and between them and the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Carpentieri, Loredana & Micossi, Stefano & Parascandolo, Paola, 2019. "Overhauling corporate taxation in the digital economy," CEPS Papers 25090, Centre for European Policy Studies.
  • Handle: RePEc:eps:cepswp:25090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael P. Devereux & John Vella, 2014. "Are We Heading towards a Corporate Tax System Fit for the 21-super-st Century?," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 35, pages 449-475, December.
    2. Shafik Hebous & Alexander Klemm & Saila Stausholm, 2020. "Revenue Implications of Destination-Based Cash-Flow Taxation," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 68(4), pages 848-874, December.
    3. Rinaldo Evangelista & Paolo Guerrieri & Valentina Meliciani, 2014. "The economic impact of digital technologies in Europe," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 802-824, November.
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    5. Michael P. Devereux & John Vella, 2015. "Are We Heading towards a Corporate Tax System Fit for the 21st Century?," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 12(04), pages 03-07, January.
    6. European Commission, 2001. "Annex to Company Taxation in the Internal Market," Taxation Studies 0006, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
    7. European Commission, 2001. "Company Taxation in the Internal Market," Taxation Studies 0005, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
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    3. Adam Seth Litwin & Sherry M. Tanious, 2021. "Information Technology, Business Strategy and the Reassignment of Work from In‐House Employees to Agency Temps," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(3), pages 816-847, September.

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