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Cross-jurisdictional income shifting and tax enforcement: evidence from public versus private multinationals

Author

Listed:
  • Christof Beuselinck

    (IESEG School of Management and LEM)

  • Marc Deloof

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Ann Vanstraelen

    (Maastricht University)

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of tax enforcement and public listing status on income shifting by multinational corporations (MNCs). For a sample of over 8,000 subsidiaries that are majority-owned by 959 European MNCs over the period 1998–2009, we find strong evidence of income shifting from high to low tax countries and that income is shifted more out of high-tax countries when local tax enforcement is weak. In addition, we show that private MNCs exploit weak tax enforcement more to shift income out of the parent country compared to public MNCs. Combined, our results suggest that tax enforcement plays a crucial role in MNC income shifting decisions and that shifting is more aggressive when MNCs are less affected by nontax shifting costs as is the case in private MNCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Christof Beuselinck & Marc Deloof & Ann Vanstraelen, 2015. "Cross-jurisdictional income shifting and tax enforcement: evidence from public versus private multinationals," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 710-746, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:20:y:2015:i:2:d:10.1007_s11142-014-9310-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-014-9310-y
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • M40 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - General

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