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Estimating profit shifting in South Africa using firm-level tax returns

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  • Hayley Reynolds
  • Ludvig Wier

Abstract

Using the universe of South African corporate tax returns for 2009-14, we estimate profit- and debt-shifting responses in South Africa. We find evidence that South African subsidiaries engage in profit shifting and that profit-shifting responses to tax incentives across all channels are systematically higher compared to developed countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Hayley Reynolds & Ludvig Wier, 2016. "Estimating profit shifting in South Africa using firm-level tax returns," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-128, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2016-128
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2016-128.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Petr Janský & Miroslav Palanský, 2019. "Estimating the scale of profit shifting and tax revenue losses related to foreign direct investment," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(5), pages 1048-1103, October.
    2. David Bradbury, & Tibor Hanappi & Anne Moore, . "Estimating the fiscal effects of base erosion and profit shifting: data availability and analytical issues," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    3. Ofori, Isaac Kwesi & Obeng, Camara Kwasi & Mwinlaaru, Yeltulme Pter, 2021. "Effect of Exchange Rate Volatility on Tax Revenue Performance In Sub-Saharan Africa," EconStor Preprints 233955, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    4. Amina Ebrahim & Rebone Gcabo & Lilian Khumalo & Jukka Pirttilä, 2019. "Tax research in South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-9, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Aliisa Koivisto & Nicholas Musoke & Dorothy Nakyambadde & Caroline Schimanski, 2021. "The case of taxing multinational corporations in Uganda: Do multinational corporations face lower effective tax rates and is there evidence for profit shifting?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-51, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Jieun Choi & Mark Dutz & Zainab Usman, 2020. "The Future of Work in Africa [L’avenir du travail en Afrique]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 32124.
    7. Ludvig Wier, 2018. "Tax-motivated transfer mispricing in South Africa: Direct evidence using transaction data," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-123, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Petr Janský & Miroslav Palanský, 2019. "Estimating the scale of profit shifting and tax revenue losses related to foreign direct investment," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(5), pages 1048-1103, October.
    9. Ludvig Wier & Hayley Reynolds, 2018. "Big and 'unprofitable': How 10 per cent of multinational firms do 98 per cent of profit shifting," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-111, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Ludvig Wier, 2018. "Tax-motivated transfer mispricing in South Africa: Direct evidence using transaction data," WIDER Working Paper Series 123, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    11. Roseline Misati & Kethi Ngoka & Anne Kamau & Maureen Odongo, 2022. "Profit shifting by multinational corporations in Kenya: The role of internal debt," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-39, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    12. Wier, Ludvig, 2020. "Tax-motivated transfer mispricing in South Africa: Direct evidence using transaction data," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    13. Ludvig Wier & Hayley Reynolds, 2018. "Big and ‘unprofitable’: How 10% of multinational firms do 98% of profit shifting," WIDER Working Paper Series 111, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. 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.

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