Determinants of the variability in corporate effective tax rates: Evidence from longitudinal data

Abstract

Based on micro-level longitudinal data spanning the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86), our study's results suggest that ETRs are not associated with firm size when the relation is examined over time with firms having longer histories. However, results show that ETRs are associated with a firm's capital structure, asset mix, and performance, and that some of these associations continued after TRA86. These findings call into question the tendency of interest groups to focus simply on firm size to draw inferences about equity and neutrality of the tax system. The results also cast doubt on whether TRA86 levelled the playing field.