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The Alternative Minimum Tax and the Behavior of Multinational Corporations

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  • Andrew B. Lyon
  • Gerald Silverstein

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which U.S.-based multinational corporations are affected by the alternative minimum tax. More than half of all foreign-source income received by corporations in 1990 was earned by corporations subject to the alternative minimum tax. The AMT rules potentially affect multinational corporations in a manner different from their effect on domestic corporations. The paper examines the differential incentives the AMT creates for locating investment either domestically or abroad and considers how the incentives for the repatriation of foreign-source income are affected by the AMT. Tax return data of U.S.-based multinationals are examined to see the extent to which these incentives may influence the repatriation of foreign-source income.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew B. Lyon & Gerald Silverstein, 1994. "The Alternative Minimum Tax and the Behavior of Multinational Corporations," NBER Working Papers 4783, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:4783
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    1. James R. Hines, Jr. & R. Glenn Hubbard, 1990. "Coming Home to America: Dividend Repatriations by US Multinationals," NBER Chapters, in: Taxation in the Global Economy, pages 161-208, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Lyon, Andrew B., 1990. "Investment Incentives Under the Alternative Minimum Tax," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 43(4), pages 451-465, December.
    3. Rosanne Altshuler, 1995. "Do Repatriation Taxes Matter? Evidence from the Tax Returns of U.S. Multinationals," NBER Chapters, in: The Effects of Taxation on Multinational Corporations, pages 253-276, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Lyon, Andrew B., 1990. "Investment Incentives under the Alternative Minimum Tax," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association, vol. 43(4), pages 451-65, December.
    5. Rosanne Altshuler & T. Scott Newlon & Joel Slemrod, 1993. "The Effects of U.S. Tax Policy on the Income Repatriation Patterns of U. S . Multinational Corporations," NBER Chapters, in: Studies in International Taxation, pages 77-116, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Andrew B. Lyon, 1992. "Tax Neutrality Under Parallel Tax Systems," Public Finance Review, , vol. 20(3), pages 338-358, July.
    7. Giovannini, Alberto & Hubbard, R. Glenn & Slemrod, Joel (ed.), 1993. "Studies in International Taxation," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226297019, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. James R. Hines, Jr., 1994. "No Place like Home: Tax Incentives and the Location of R&D by American Multinationals," NBER Chapters, in: Tax Policy and the Economy, Volume 8, pages 65-104, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Eijffinger, Sylvester C. W. & Huizinga, Harry P. & Lemmen, Jan J. G., 1998. "Short-term and long-term government debt and nonresident interest withholding taxes," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 309-334, June.
    3. Caren Sureth & Ralf Maiterth, 2006. "Wealth Tax As Alternative Minimum Tax ? - the Impact of Minimum Taxation on Business Structure and Strategy -," EcoMod2006 272100093, EcoMod.
    4. Fritz Foley, C. & Hartzell, Jay C. & Titman, Sheridan & Twite, Garry, 2007. "Why do firms hold so much cash? A tax-based explanation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(3), pages 579-607, December.
    5. Niemann, Rainer, 2004. "Entscheidungswirkungen von Verlustverrechnungsbeschränkungen bei der Steuerplanung grenzüberschreitender Investitionen," Tübinger Diskussionsbeiträge 276, University of Tübingen, School of Business and Economics.
    6. Kenneth A. Froot & James R. Hines, Jr., 1995. "Interest Allocation Rules, Financing Patterns, and the Operations of U.S. Multinationals," NBER Chapters, in: The Effects of Taxation on Multinational Corporations, pages 277-312, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Marques, Mário & Rodrigues, Lúcia Lima & Craig, Russell, 2011. "Earnings management induced by tax planning: The case of Portuguese private firms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 83-96.
    8. Harry Grubert & John Mutti, 1995. "Taxing multinationals in a world with portfolio flows and R&D: Is capital export neutrality obsolete?," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 2(3), pages 439-457, October.
    9. Ortmann, Regina & Sureth, Caren, 2014. "Can the CCCTB alleviate tax discrimination against loss-making European multinational groups?," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 165, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    10. Regina Ortmann & Caren Sureth-Sloane, 2016. "Can the CCCTB alleviate tax discrimination against loss-making European multinational groups?," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 86(5), pages 441-475, July.
    11. Plesko, George A., 2003. "An evaluation of alternative measures of corporate tax rates," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 201-226, June.
    12. Rainer Niemann, 2004. "Asymmetric Taxation and Cross-Border Investment Decisions," CESifo Working Paper Series 1219, CESifo.
    13. Caren Sureth & Ralf Maiterth, 2008. "The impact of minimum taxation by an imputable wealth tax on capital budgeting and business strategy of German companies," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 81-110, July.
    14. Rainer Niemann & Corinna Treisch, 2005. "Group Taxation, Asymmetric Taxation and Cross-Border Investment Incentives in Austria," CESifo Working Paper Series 1506, CESifo.
    15. James R. Hines, Jr., 1996. "Tax Policy and the Activities of Multinational Corporations," NBER Working Papers 5589, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Niemann, Rainer & Treisch, Corinna, 2005. "Grenzüberschreitende Investitionen nach der Steuerreform 2005: stärkt die Gruppenbesteuerung den Holdingstandort Österreich?," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 1, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    17. Kenneth A. Froot & James R. Hines, Jr. & R. Glenn Hubbard, 1995. "The Tax Treatment of Interest and the Operations of U.S. Multinationals," NBER Chapters, in: Taxing Multinational Corporations, pages 81-94, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm

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