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Earnings Persistence and Stock Market Reactions to the Different Information in Book-Tax Differences: Evidence from China

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  • Tang, Tanya Y.H.
  • Firth, Michael

Abstract

Prior studies document that book-tax differences (BTDs) reflect divergent reporting rules for book and tax purposes, and contain information about earnings management and tax planning. In this paper, we investigate whether the regulatory and opportunistic information impounded in BTDs differentially influences earnings persistence and the earnings–returns relation. Using BTD data from China, we separate BTDs into normal BTDs (NBTDs) and abnormal BTDs (ABTDs). NBTDs are more likely driven by regulatory differences between accounting and tax rules and ABTDs are more likely driven by earnings and tax management activities. We find that firms with large positive and negative ABTDs (NBTDs) exhibit less earnings persistence compared to firms with small ABTDs (NBTDs). However, the level of earnings persistence for large unsigned ABTD firms is significantly lower than it is for large unsigned NBTD firms. While large unsigned NBTDs appear to enhance the earnings–returns relation, we find no evidence that large unsigned ABTDs affect the earnings–returns relation. Overall, the results suggest that the differing components of BTDs have differential implications for earnings quality. Additional tests show that ABTDs and NBTDs can provide incremental information about earnings persistence beyond the information in discretionary accruals and total accruals, suggesting that the investigation of BTDs adds value to financial analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Tang, Tanya Y.H. & Firth, Michael, 2012. "Earnings Persistence and Stock Market Reactions to the Different Information in Book-Tax Differences: Evidence from China," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 369-397.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:accoun:v:47:y:2012:i:3:p:369-397
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intacc.2012.07.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Hajawiyah, Ain & Suryarini, Trisni & Kiswanto, & Tarmudji, Tarsis, 2021. "Analysis of a tax amnesty’s effectiveness in Indonesia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    4. Wei Huang & Tingting Ying & Yun Shen, 2018. "Executive cash compensation and tax aggressiveness of Chinese firms," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 1151-1180, November.
    5. Luo, Jinbo & Ni, Xiaoran & Tian, Gary Gang, 2020. "Short selling and corporate tax avoidance: Insights from a financial constraint view," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    6. Lorenzo Simoni & Stefan Schaper & Christian Nielsen, 2022. "Business Model Disclosures, Market Values, and Earnings Persistence: Evidence From the UK," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 58(1), pages 142-173, March.
    7. Tanya Y.H. Tang, 2015. "Does Book-Tax Conformity Deter Opportunistic Book and Tax Reporting? An International Analysis," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3), pages 441-469, September.
    8. Wen-Jun Tu & Xiao-Guang Yue & Wei Liu & M. James C. Crabbe, 2020. "Valuation Impacts of Environmental Protection Taxes and Regulatory Costs in Heavy-Polluting Industries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-21, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Book-tax differences; Earnings and tax management; Earnings persistence; Earnings quality; Stock returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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