From Government to Enterprises:How Tax Sharing Interacts with Tax Rates

Tax sharing embodies central-local government fiscal relations and tax rates reflect government-market relations.Research on the interactions between tax sharing and tax rates helps uncover the effects of central-local fiscal relations on government-market relations.According to our study,China's flexible tax sharing and differential tax rates facing firms are two important typical facts;theoretical analysis discovered that effective corporate tax rates are influenced by local government preferences and tax sharing ratio;empirical analysis found that increasing CIT and VAT sharing ratios for governments at city and county levels led to the reduction of tax evasion and increase of effective tax rates.The above conclusions have revealed the unique mechanism of how government-market relations are influenced by fiscal system,explains the sources of differential tax rates facing Chinese firms,and provides reference for next-step fiscal reform.

Some Comments on Tax Competition and Its Potential Effects on Tax Rates and Revenues

Corporate taxation is seen as the price of investing in a country, that is, the price either for the right to do business within the jurisdiction or for the supply of public goods. If consumption of that right or those public goods is mobile between jurisdictions and price competition ensues which will force prices together. Also, in the case of high tax regimes, a fall in the tax burden would be anticipated. In other words, countries will spontaneously harmonize their tax systems or face the loss of intemational investment and the disadvantages they bring.

Proposal for a Tax Rate Swap to Shield Against the Gap Between Statutory and Effective Tax Rates-A Boost for Entrepreneurship and a Motive for New Investments

This paper focuses on a common problem for entrepreneurs and investors:the uncertainty around the actual tax rate,which is the percent of net income that a corporation pays in taxes.This uncertainty results from a difference(i.e.,a gap)between the statutory and the effective tax rate,which is the actual tax rate.This gap results from the legal framework which provides that certain types of incomes and expenses are not considered income.This gap causes significant uncertainty and may hinder entrepreneurship.This paper studies this gap in seven OECD countries(Austria,Canada,France,Germany,Italy,UK,and USA)and Brazil.We selected the 10 top-listed companies of each country and calculated the gaps for the period 2016-2019.Our findings proved that these gaps are unstable and may differ between companies of the same country and between countries.In addition,gaps of specific companies may change over time.The key outcome of this paper is the proposal of a new derivative tax rate swap.Using this derivative,governments will be able to eliminate the gap of specific companies,attract new investment,and increase entrepreneurship.

Unintended Results:Inter-Provincial Differences in Environmental Protection Tax Rates and Relocation Strategies of Polluting Enterprises

The Environmental Protection Tax Law that took effect in 2018 gave local authorities a certain amount of discretionary power to set the local rates for environmental protection tax.The inter-provincial gradient tax rates pattern may induce strategic relocation of enterprises,leading to unintended policy results.Combined with the data on trans-regional investment of listed companies,this paper employs the Difference-in-Difference(DID)approach to study the impact of inter-provincially different environmental tax rates on the trans-regional migration of polluting enterprises.The study shows that due to the regional differences in the tax rates,the polluting enterprises opt for the relocation strategy of"avoiding high tax rates and opting for low rates",setting up more subsidiaries in regions with relatively low tax rates.Further research demonstrates that the trans-regional migration induced by different tax rates can help reduce production costs and increase corporate profits,while dampening the corporate enthusiasm for green innovation in the short term and resulting in pollution transfer.This paper reveals the unintended policy effects that may derive from the environmental tax reform,providing concrete proof for the comprehensive evaluation and understanding of the actual policy effects of existing environmental tax reform.

Choice and Simulation of Tax Rates in Resource Tax Reform

Resource tax reform will be done during China＇s 12m Five-Year Plan, but related research is still lacking. Here, we build a computable general equilibrium model （CGE） comprising the functional equations of production, consumption, income/expenditure and resources to analyze the resource tax rate. The model uses the valorem tax levy to simulate the impact of economic and resource systems with different resource tax rates, by referencing the expected rate ranges of China and developed countries. The results show that the impact is different for social, economic and resources of varying degrees. In the relatively stable period of economic development, we can select a tax rate of 5% to 7%; during higher economic development we can select an optional high level of resource tax; and in a fluctuating economy we can choose a lower tax level.

A simplified differential game model for the optimal choice of tax rate

A classical problem on optimal choice of tax rate from the perspective of differential game approach is studied. Under some appropriate assumptions on the profit and utility functions, the open-loop Stackelberg equilibrium solution which is time- dependent is obtained. Result shows that 1) the optimal strategies derived from differential game and traditional unilateral optimal control approaches are different; 2) both marginal profit rate and the market rate of interest have great effect on the equilibrium solution; and 3) the government should think about the firm’s potential reaction when selecting tax rates and the timing of taxation.

Consequences of Tax Rate Decrease in Polish Tax System

After a transition from the central planning into a market economy, Poland was compelled to implement a new tax system. It was based on income taxes and turnover （especially value added） taxes. Primarily income taxes had high tax rates. In corporate tax the rate was proportional and at the beginning amounted to 40%. For natural persons the taxation had a progressive tendency. The tax rates amounted to 21%, 33% and 45% respectively with very low limits of income, which resulted in changing the rate. Since the beginning of 1991 and 1992 till now the tax rates have been decreased significantly. Now the tax rates amount to 18% and 32% respectively with high level of income, which results in changing the rate. The question arises whether such changes were really effective for the central budget. The article formulates and verifies a hypothesis assuming that lowering the rates was justified by the contemporary ＂fashion＂ rather than economic reasons. According to financial aspects, the impact of lower rates on the central budged will be examined.

A Brief Discussion on Consumption Tax Planning

Consumption tax is calibrated within the price.The amount of consumption tax will directly affect the profits of enterprises.On a law-abiding premise,it is crucial to plan the consumption tax,reduce the burden of consumption tax,and increase the profits of enterprises.This article proposes several consumption tax planning strategies and methods to provide reference for taxpayers from three aspects:the scope of tax collection,the basis of tax calculation,and the tax rate.

Declaring income versus declaring taxes in tax compliance experiments:Does the design of laboratory experiments affect the results?

Laboratory experiments are frequently criticised,in part because of the sensitivity of the results to specific features of the design.This paper addresses an important question regarding the key aspect of the experimental environment:How should the dependent variable–participants’choices–be operationalised?For the specific context of laboratory research on income tax compliance,we compare the effects of the two most common operationalisation types:the declaration of gross income versus the declaration of tax payment.It is found that compliance is higher when participants indicate their tax payment than when they declare their income.It is also discovered that the effects of the three policy parameters of the economic model(the tax rate,audit probability and fine rate)are stronger when participants declare their taxes than when they declare their income.These results are relevant for interpreting prior and future experimental evidence on tax compliance and can explain some contradictory previous findings.More broadly,this study suggests that the results of laboratory experiments may depend on specific features of the experimental design,which proposes a strong need for more systematic methodological research.

Promoting Economic Recovery Through Taxation

The role of taxation in promoting economic recovery has attracted great-er attention in recent years,with economic dislocation following the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.While taxation is only one of the factors impacting economic recovery,both economic literature and practical experience show that tax policy can contribute to enhanced growth and therefore greater economic activity.Tax instruments used as a means for promoting economic recovery include tax holidays,preferential tax rates,investment allowances,tax credits and special economic zones.However,there are a range of constraints over tax incentive design imposed by bodies such as the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting,the Forum on Harmful Tax Practices of the OECD and the Code of Conduct on Business Taxation of the European Union.Given the above,this paper sets out practical issues to inform governments seeking to promote economic activity through taxation.

Tax credit rating and corporate innovation decisions

The tax credit rating mechanism was formally implemented in 2014.As an important tax collection and management innovation,it has attracted the attention of regulatory authorities and scholars.Different from the literature that directly examines corporate tax compliance,we focus on the impact of tax credit rating implementation on corporate research and development(R&D)investment decisions.Using listed companies’data from 2014 to 2019,we find that companies with higher tax credit ratings invest more in innovation,because the system helps managers identify R&D opportunities,alleviates corporate financing constraints and reduces agency costs.We confirm that tax credit ratings have manifold impacts on corporate information environments and business decisions,with better ratings positively affecting firms’business decisions.This discovery can inform tax policy reform,encourage corporate innovation and construct social credit systems.

A STACKELBERG DIFFERENTIAL GAMES SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM OF OPTIMAL INTERTEMPORAL INVESTMENT AND TAX RATE DESIGN

Using the Stackelberg differential games(SDG) theory,we quantitatively study a problem of optimal intertemporal investment and tax rate design.Under some appropriate assumptions,the open-loop Stackelberg equilibrium solutions are obtained.Equilibrium solutions show that:1.The optimal strategies derived from differential game and unilateral optimal control approaches are different;2.It is not always the best strategy for the government to use a constant tax rate over the whole time period;3.The admissible size of tax rate adjustment may have great effect on the government's optimal strategy;4.SDG approach has no significant effect on the firm's optimal investment strategy.

Price, Tax and Cigarette Smoking： Simulations of China＇s Tobacco Tax Policy

This paper explains the tobacco tax structure and cigarette pricing mechanism in China, develops a general analytical framework for analyzing the Chinese tobacco turnover tax system, and examines the effects of 2009 tobacco tax adjustment on cigarette prices and tax revenue. We find that although the tax is not the most important factor determining cigarette retail prices, the tobacco tax does significantly affect the tobacco industry＇s profits under the current tobacco monopoly system in China. Therefore, the adjustment of the tobacco excise tax in 2009 did not raise cigarette retail prices, instead government tax revenue increased. In other words, the net result of the tax adjustment was a transfer of the tobacco industry＇s profit to government tax revenues. Profit margins ultimately determine cigarette wholesale and retail prices. From the perspective of tobacco control, China needs to reform its tobacco tax system and collect taxes at the retail level to increase overall cigarette retail prices, as well as reduce the government＇s monopolization over cigarette productions and sales.

Corporate Investment and Tax Disincentive： Evidence from China

This study investigates how taxes influence corporate investment behavior. Based on a census of Chinese industrial enterprises, we utilize a tax-adjusted q model to examine the effects of taxes on corporate investment in fixed assets in China. Results show that the effective tax rate has a relatively small but significantly negative impact on Chinese firms＇ investment in fixed assets. We extend the tax-adjusted q model to control for the lagged investment effect and peer effect of investment. Models with these effects do better at explaining the impact of taxes on firms＇ investment. The lagged investment models present smaller but significant tax disincentive. Firms compete for investment with other firms both in the same region and in the same industry through peer effect. In addition, the tax disincentive differs among state owned enterprises, private enterprises, and other enterprises in China.

Asymptotic Marginal Tax Rate of Individual Income Tax in China

This paper examines the asymptotic marginal rate of individual income tax which maximizes China's social welfare through numerical simulation based on the elasticity of China's labor supply, income distribution and the social objectives of redistribution in accordance with the optimal direct taxation theory. Taking advantage of the optimal direct taxation model with consideration of the income effect, it comes to the conclusion that combined with China's reality, the asymptotic marginal rate of individual labor income tax in China should be between 35% and 40%.

A Study on the Income Redistribution Effect of China’s 2018 Personal Income Tax Reform

Personal income tax is an important redistribution tool,its redistribution effect has been concerned by all walks of life.Using CHIP2018,this paper calculates and analyzes the income redistribution effect of the personal income tax reform plan in 2018,and fi nds that:The comprehensive taxation can raise the average tax rate,progressivity and redistribution effect of personal income tax;The rise of the standard of basic deduction,six special additional deductions,and the change of tax rate structure raise the progressiveness of personal income tax,but reduce the average tax rate and thus weaken the income redistribution effect of personal income tax;The comprehensive income tax will enhance the impact of basic deduction of expenses,six special additional deductions and the change of tax rate structure on the redistribution effect of individual income tax income;Under the joint action of the reform measures,the progressivity of individual income tax has risen as a whole,but the average tax rate of individual income tax and redistribution index have shown a sharp decline,both of which decreased by more than 50%.Using the household survey data of the year of reform,this paper comprehensively investigates the income redistribution effect of the personal income tax reform,which enriches the research on the redistribution effect of the new round of personal income tax reform.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND CORPORATE FINANCING DECISIONS IN CHINA:THEORY AND EVIDENCE

This paper examines the effect of government policies on the financing decisions of firms in China. A real options model is developed to understand how fiscal and monetary policies affect corporate leverage.The model predictions will be tested with a comprehensive panel data set spanning from 2002 to 2011.This work documents robust evidence that show the positive association of both tax and risk-free rate with firm leverage：increase in tax rate and risk free rate by one standard deviation results in the increase in corporate leverages by 0.61 to 1.06 percent and 2.54 to 3.68 percent,respectively.In addition,the productions of the firms are not affected by the tax rate in the short run,and the firms are operating in their optimal market leverage.The implied tax rate and risk free rate are solved by assuming that the firms achieve their optimal leverages.The implied tax rate declines with the size, whereas the opposite goes for implied risk-free rate.