Affiliation:
1. The University of Arizona 1130 E. Helen St. UNITED STATES Tucson AZ 85711 520.621.3765
2. Accounting 1130 E. Helen St. UNITED STATES Tucson AZ 85711 520.621.3765
3. Virginia Tech
4. Indiana University UNITED STATES
5. Texas A&M University
Abstract
We use the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a setting to offer new insights into companies’ tax accruals. We examine companies’ estimates of the mandatory one-time transition tax on previously untaxed foreign earnings. We exploit the one-year measurement period provided by SAB 118 during which companies could adjust their initial transition tax estimates to examine how companies’ information gathering and processing costs affect these estimates. We find more accurate initial estimates for companies (1) with political access, (2) with less busy financial statement auditors, and (3) who previously accrued estimated incremental U.S. tax on foreign earnings. Finally, we find companies with incentives to manage external perceptions that they pay their “fair share” of tax are more likely to overstate their initial transition tax estimates. Our study provides evidence of cross-sectional differences in companies’ financial reporting of income taxes during a politically sensitive time.
Publisher
American Accounting Association
Cited by
2 articles.
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