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Profit shifting and tax response of multinational banks

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  • Merz, Julia
  • Overesch, Michael

Abstract

This paper analyzes multinational banks’ response to taxation. For the empirical analysis we use firm-level bank data from the Bankscope database. We find significant tax effects on reported profits of bank subsidiaries. The magnitude for the tax response of reported profits doubles the effects found in previous studies for non-financial MNCs. Additional analysis reveals that the response to tax incentives differs across business types. The tax elasticity of revenues generated by interest-bearing activities is less responsive compared to other activities. Results also reveal significant tax effects on loan loss provisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Merz, Julia & Overesch, Michael, 2016. "Profit shifting and tax response of multinational banks," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 57-68.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:68:y:2016:i:c:p:57-68
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2016.03.015
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Anarfi & Danuše Nerudová, 2018. "Profit Shifting and the Tax Response of Multinational Banks in Eastern Europe," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 66(3), pages 729-736.
    2. Franz Reiter & Dominika Langenmayr & Svea Holtmann, "undated". "Avoiding Taxes: Banks' Use of Internal Debt," Working Papers 196, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    3. Gawehn, Vanessa, 2019. "Banks and corporate income taxation: A review," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 247, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    4. Verena K. Dutt & Christopher A. Ludwig & Katharina Nicolay & Heiko Vay & Johannes Voget, 2019. "Increasing tax transparency: investor reactions to the country-by-country reporting requirement for EU financial institutions," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(6), pages 1259-1290, December.
    5. Daniel Anarfi & Danuše Nerudová, 2017. "Profit-Shifting Activities in the Mining Sector: Evidence from the Czech Republic," European Journal of Business Science and Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Business and Economics, vol. 3(1), pages 5-12, October.
    6. Aneta Hryckiewicz & Piotr Mielus & Karolina Skorulska & Malgorzata Snarska, 2018. "Does a bank levy increase frictions on the interbank market?," Working Papers 2018-033, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of Economic Analysis.
    7. Reiter, Franz, 2017. "Avoiding Taxes: Banks' Use of Internal Debt," Annual Conference 2017 (Vienna): Alternative Structures for Money and Banking 168115, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    8. Fatica, Serena & Wildmer, Gregori, 2018. "Profit shifting by EU banks: evidence from country-by-country reporting," Working Papers 2018-04, Joint Research Centre, European Commission (Ispra site).
    9. Bertay, Ata Can & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Huizinga, Harry, 2017. "Are international banks different? Evidence on bank performance and strategy," CEPR Discussion Papers 12505, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Fatica, Serena & Gregori, Wildmer Daniel, 2020. "How much profit shifting do European banks do?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 536-551.
    11. Serena Fatica & Wouter Heynderickx & Andrea Pagano, 2020. "Banks, Debt And Risk: Assessing The Spillovers Of Corporate Taxes," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(2), pages 1023-1044, April.
    12. Becker, Johannes & Johannesen, Niels & Riedel, Nadine, 2020. "Taxation and the allocation of risk inside the multinational firm," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    13. Dutt, Verena K. & Nicolay, Katharina & Vay, Heiko & Voget, Johannes, 2019. "Can European banks' country-by-country reports reveal profit shifting? An analysis of the information content of EU banks' disclosures," ZEW Discussion Papers 19-042, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    14. Gawehn, Vanessa & Müller, Jens, 2019. "Tax avoidance - are banks any different?," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 239, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    15. Dominika Langenmayr & Franz Reiter, 2017. "Trading Offshore: Evidence on Banks' Tax Avoidance," CESifo Working Paper Series 6664, CESifo.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial sector taxation; Multinational bank; Corporate taxation; Empirical analysis;

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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