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Tax Reforms and Inter-temporal Shifting of Corporate Income: Evidence from Tax Records in Slovakia

Author

Listed:
  • Jaroslav Bukovina
  • Tomas Lichard
  • Jan Palguta
  • Branislav Zudel

Abstract

We use administrative tax return data for all corporations in Slovakia to demonstrate how policies facilitating inter-temporal income shifting result in elevated corporate income tax (CIT) elasticity estimates. Our strategy exploits kinks in the statutory tax schedules and policy reforms of tax carry-forwards. If inter-temporal shifting is neglected, our bunching estimates imply CIT elasticity of up to 0.65, suggesting a highly sensitive tax base with respect to the marginal tax rate. However, we show that CIT elasticity drops at least 21.2-49.1% when we remove the inter-temporal shifting component. This correction significantly reduces the estimated marginal excess burden of corporate taxation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaroslav Bukovina & Tomas Lichard & Jan Palguta & Branislav Zudel, 2020. "Tax Reforms and Inter-temporal Shifting of Corporate Income: Evidence from Tax Records in Slovakia," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp660, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    • Handle: RePEc:cer:papers:wp660
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate income tax; elasticity; inter-temporal profit shifting; bunching; tax carry-forwards;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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