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Why do not all firms engage in tax avoidance?

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Jacob

    (WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management)

  • Anna Rohlfing-Bastian

    (Goethe-University Frankfurt)

  • Kai Sandner

    (Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt)

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests that there is substantial cross-firm variation in tax avoidance. However, this variation is not well understood. This paper provides a theoretical background for testing, and thus explaining, cross-firm differences in tax avoidance. We develop a formal model with two agents to analyze the incentives that lead firms to engage in tax avoidance. The tax avoidance decision is a function of moral hazard, tax-planning costs, and the potential to increase earnings. If the potential to increase earnings is low, the tax-planning decision is determined by moral hazard problems. In contrast, when this potential is high, the tax-planning decision is mainly driven by tax-planning costs, such as reputational and political costs. One implication of our model is that moral hazard can (partly) explain why some firms do not engage in tax avoidance: Severe problems of moral hazard make tax avoidance less likely. Our model can be a basis for testing differences in tax avoidance between different types of firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Jacob & Anna Rohlfing-Bastian & Kai Sandner, 2021. "Why do not all firms engage in tax avoidance?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 459-495, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:15:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11846-019-00346-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-019-00346-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Moral hazard; Tax avoidance; Tax planning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm

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