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An empirical analysis of the changes in tax audit focus on international transfer pricing

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  • Chan, K. Hung
  • Lo, Agnes W.Y.
  • Mo, Phyllis L.L.

Abstract

International transfer pricing is an important financial management mechanism allowing multinational corporations to maneuver funds internationally. The manipulation of reported profits often triggers investigations from tax authorities. With the increased globalization of economies and changes in the business environment, tax authorities in many countries have refined their enforcement of transfer pricing regulations. In this study, we use archival data in China to examine whether tax authorities have changed their focus on auditing multinational companies over the past two decades. Our results indicate that Chinese tax authorities have significantly reduced their focus on auditing wholly foreign-owned enterprises, and placed more focus on Western multinationals and larger companies in the late 2000s as compared with tax audits in the early 1990s. Tax audits in the late 2000s also focus on export-oriented and loss firms. The findings show that changes in the business environment, regulations and the audit expertise of tax officials can lead to a shift in the focus of tax audits of international transfer pricing.

Suggested Citation

  • Chan, K. Hung & Lo, Agnes W.Y. & Mo, Phyllis L.L., 2015. "An empirical analysis of the changes in tax audit focus on international transfer pricing," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 94-104.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jiaata:v:24:y:2015:i:c:p:94-104
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2014.12.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scholes, Ms & Wilson, Gp & Wolfson, Ma, 1992. "Firms Responses To Anticipated Reductions In Tax Rates - The Tax-Reform Act Of 1986," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30, pages 161-185.
    2. K. Hung Chan, 1997. "International Transfer Pricing for Business Operations in China: Inducements, Regulation and Practice," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(9&10), pages 1269-1289.
    3. K. Hung, Lynne Chan Chow, 1997. "International Transfer Pricing for Business Operations in China: Inducements, Regulation and Practice," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(9‐10), pages 1269-1289, October.
    4. Chan, K. Hung & Chow, Lynne, 1997. "An empirical study of tax audits in China on international transfer pricing," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 83-112, May.
    5. Chan, K. Hung & Lo, Agnes W. Y., 2004. "The influence of management perception of environmental variables on the choice of international transfer-pricing methods," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 93-110.
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    Cited by:

    1. Victoria I. Tarasova & Yuri V. Mezdrykov & Svetlana B. Efimova & Elena S. Fedotova & Dmitry A. Dudenkov & Regina V. Skachkova, 2018. "Methodological provision for the assessment of audit risk during the audit of tax reporting," Post-Print hal-02166957, HAL.
    2. Victoria I. Tarasova & Yuri V. Mezdrykov & Svetlana B. Efimova & Elena S. Fedotova & Dmitry A. Dudenkov & Regina V. Skachkova, 2018. "Methodological provision for the assessment of audit risk during the audit of tax reporting," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 6(1), pages 371-397, September.

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