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International Transfer Pricing and Tax Avoidance: Evidence from Linked Trade-Tax Statistics in the United Kingdom

Author

Listed:
  • Li Liu

    (International Monetary Fund)

  • Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr

    (Federal Reserve Board of Governors)

  • Dongxian Guo

    (University College London)

Abstract

This paper employs unique data on export transactions and corporate tax returns of UK multinational firms and finds that firms manipulate their transfer prices to shift profits to lower-taxed destinations. It shows that the 2009 tax reform in the United Kingdom, which changed the taxation of corporate profits from a worldwide to a territorial system, led to a substantial increase in transfer mispricing. It also provides evidence for a trade creation effect of transfer mispricing and estimates substantial transfer mispricing in non-tax-haven countries with low- to medium-level corporate tax rates, and in R&D intensive firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Liu & Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr & Dongxian Guo, 2020. "International Transfer Pricing and Tax Avoidance: Evidence from Linked Trade-Tax Statistics in the United Kingdom," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(4), pages 766-778, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:102:y:2020:i:4:p:766-778
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Manon Francois & Vincent Vicard, 2023. "Tax Avoidance and the Complexity of Multinational Enterprises," Working Papers 2023-04, CEPII research center.
    2. Langenmayr, Dominika & Liu, Li, 2023. "Home or away? Profit shifting with territorial taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    3. repec:kue:epaper:e-20-004 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Makoto Hasegawa, 2023. "Territorial Tax Reform and Profit Shifting by US and Japanese Multinationals," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 76(4), pages 771-804.
    5. Gauß, P. & Kortenhaus, M. & Riedel, N. & Simmler, M., 2024. "Leveling the playing field: Constraints on multinational profit shifting and the performance of national firms," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    6. Annette Alstadsæter & Julie Brun Bjørkheim & Ronald B. Davies & Johannes Scheuerer, 2022. "Pennies from Haven: Wages and Profit Shifting," CESifo Working Paper Series 9590, CESifo.
    7. Sunghoon Hong, 2022. "Tax treaties and foreign equity holding companies of multinational corporations," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 483-520, February.
    8. Knoll, Bodo & Kruse-Becher, Sanne & Riedel, Nadine, 2023. "The impact of transfer pricing laws on import mis-pricing – Evidence from Denmark," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    9. MUKUNOKI Hiroshi & OKOSHI Hirofumi, 2021. "Wake Not a Sleeping Lion: Free Trade Agreements and Decision Rights in Multinationals," Discussion papers 21036, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    10. Ludvig Wier & Hayley Erasmus, 2023. "The Dominant Role of Large Firms in Profit Shifting," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(3), pages 791-816, September.
    11. Nadia Accoto & Stefano Federico & Giacomo Oddo, 2023. "Trade in services related to intangibles and the profit shifting hypothesis," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1414, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    12. Scherer Anna-Lena & Schmiel Ute, 2021. "Ethical and Legal Responsibility of Multinational Corporate Groups for a Fair Share of Taxes," Nordic Tax Journal, Sciendo, vol. 2021(1), pages 32-46, October.

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