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A potential benefit of increasing book–tax conformity: evidence from the reduction in audit fees

Author

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  • Nan-Ting Kuo

    (Nankai University)

  • Cheng-Few Lee

    (Rutgers University)

Abstract

Our study explores a possible benefit of conforming book income to taxable income. We expect that increased book–tax conformity can reduce audit fees by simplifying tax accruals and increasing tax authorities’ monitoring, which reduce audit workload and audit risk, respectively. Consistent with our expectations, we find that a higher country level of required book–tax conformity leads to lower audit fees. Moreover, firm-level book–tax differences are positively associated with audit fees. We also find that the negative association between country level of required book–tax conformity and audit fees is mitigated among firms with larger book–tax differences. Our findings are robust to including country-level legal investor protection or other extra-legal institutions. Overall, our results suggest that one benefit of increasing book–tax conformity is the reduction in audit fees.

Suggested Citation

  • Nan-Ting Kuo & Cheng-Few Lee, 2016. "A potential benefit of increasing book–tax conformity: evidence from the reduction in audit fees," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1287-1326, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:21:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s11142-016-9367-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-016-9367-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Luca Menicacci, 2022. "Financial reporting and book-tax conformity: A review of the issues," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(1), pages 41-77.
    2. Moore, Jared A. & Xu, Li, 2018. "Book-tax differences and costs of private debt," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 70-82.
    3. Audrey Hsu & Cheng-Few Lee & Sophia Liu, 2022. "Book-tax differences, CEO overconfidence, and bank loan contracting," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 437-472, February.
    4. Cheng Few Lee, 2020. "Financial econometrics, mathematics, statistics, and financial technology: an overall view," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 1529-1578, May.
    5. Sun, Xuan Sean & Habib, Ahsan & Bhuiyan, Md. Borhan Uddin, 2020. "Workforce environment and audit fees: International evidence," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(1).
    6. Climent-Serrano, Salvador & Bustos-Contell, Elisabeth & Labatut-Serer, Gregorio & Rey-Martí, Andrea, 2018. "Low-cost trends in audit fees and their impact on service quality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 345-350.
    7. Guanming He & Helen Mengbing Ren & Richard Taffler, 2020. "The impact of corporate tax avoidance on analyst coverage and forecasts," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 447-477, February.
    8. Markus Widmann & Florian Follert & Matthias Wolz, 2021. "What is it going to cost? Empirical evidence from a systematic literature review of audit fee determinants," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 455-489, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Audit fee; Book–tax conformity; Book–tax difference; Legal institution; Extra-legal institution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • M4 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting

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