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A Unifying Model of How the Tax System and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Affect Corporate Behavior

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  • Douglas A. Shackelford
  • Joel Slemrod
  • James M. Sallee

Abstract

This paper models the impact of the tax system and GAAP on the real and financial reporting decisions of corporations. It provides a first step toward joint evaluation of taxation and financial reporting in the standard economic analyses of corporate behavior. The key finding is that value arises from real decisions that provide firms with discretion in their tax and financial reporting. This desire for flexibility modifies the optimal decisions of firms, in theory, and we provide examples that illustrate this behavior in the real world.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas A. Shackelford & Joel Slemrod & James M. Sallee, 2007. "A Unifying Model of How the Tax System and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Affect Corporate Behavior," NBER Working Papers 12873, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12873
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. M. Shanmugam, 2020. "Research and Development Intensity and Effective Tax Rate: Empirical Evidence from India," Emerging Economy Studies, International Management Institute, vol. 6(2), pages 223-234, November.
    2. Burks, Jeffrey J. & Randolph, David W. & Seida, Jim A., 2019. "Modeling and interpreting regressions with interactions," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 61-79.
    3. Richardson, Grant & Taylor, Grantley, 2015. "Income Shifting Incentives and Tax Haven Utilization: Evidence from Multinational U.S. Firms," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 458-485.
    4. Taylor, Grantley & Richardson, Grant, 2012. "International Corporate Tax Avoidance Practices: Evidence from Australian Firms," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 469-496.
    5. Juan Manuel García Lara & Beatriz García Osma & Fernando Penalva, 2009. "The Economic Determinants of Conditional Conservatism," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3‐4), pages 336-372, April.
    6. Richardson, Grant & Taylor, Grantley & Lanis, Roman, 2013. "Determinants of transfer pricing aggressiveness: Empirical evidence from Australian firms," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 136-150.
    7. Taylor, Grantley & Richardson, Grant, 2013. "The determinants of thinly capitalized tax avoidance structures: Evidence from Australian firms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 12-25.
    8. Laszlo Goerke, 2008. "Tax Overpayments, Tax Evasion, and Book‐Tax Differences," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 10(4), pages 643-671, August.
    9. Juan Manuel García Lara & Beatriz García Osma & Fernando Penalva, 2009. "The Economic Determinants of Conditional Conservatism," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3‐4), pages 336-372, April.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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