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Companiesí Financial Decisions under the Distributed Profit Taxation Regime of Estonia

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  • Aaro Hazak

    (School of Economics and Business Administration, Tallinn University of Technology)

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical analysis of companiesí capital structure and dividend decisions under distributed profit taxation (DPT), the corporate taxation regime of Estonia since 2000. The survey is based on the financial information available from the Estonian Commercial Registry in respect of a sample of 51 thousand Estonian companies over a ten-year period. For the purposes of cross-country comparison, the Amadeus database information of 0.7 million companies from the European Union countries is used. The results give support to the hypothesis that the share of external financing in total capital of Estonian companies is lower in the conditions of DPT in comparison to that under the traditional gross profit taxation system. The DPT system has led companies to distribute lower portions of profit as dividends. The undistributed profits appear to be largely retained as surplus cash, instead of being reinvested into long term productive assets. DPT appears to have a positive impact on companiesí liquidity and sustainability, however the downside being the allocation of available funds into potentially inefficient investments. The results of the study may lead to discussions on introducing a similar system in other jurisdictions or on modifying the corporate taxation principles in Estonia.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaro Hazak, 2007. "Companiesí Financial Decisions under the Distributed Profit Taxation Regime of Estonia," Working Papers 155, Tallinn School of Economics and Business Administration, Tallinn University of Technology.
    • Handle: RePEc:ttu:wpaper:155
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    File URL: http://deepthought.ttu.ee/majandus/tekstid/TUTWPE_07_155.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. repec:zbw:bofitp:2003_010 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Joan Farre-Mensa & Roni Michaely & Martin Schmalz, 2014. "Payout Policy," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 75-134, December.
    7. Sanjiva Prasad & Christopher J. Green & Victor Murinde, 2001. "Company Financing, Captial Structure, and Ownership: A Survey, and Implications for Developing Economies," SUERF Studies, SUERF - The European Money and Finance Forum, number 12 edited by Morten Balling, May.
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    10. Stewart C. Myers, 2001. "Capital Structure," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 81-102, Spring.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    1. Companies Financial Decisions under the Distributed Profit Taxation Regime of Estonia
      by admin in antti on 2012-06-17 18:42:19

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    Cited by:

    1. Karsten Staehr, 2014. "Corporate Income Taxation in Estonia. Is It Time to Abandon Dividend Taxation?," TUT Economic Research Series 9, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    2. Bizņa Valentīna & Jurušs Māris & Laizāns Tālis & Šnikvalds Roberts, 2018. "Assessment of Impact of Corporate Income Tax Suspension on Financial Performance of Businesses," Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 32(1), pages 172-181, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capital structure; dividend policy; corporate taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law

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