Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Münster.

In this dissertation, I examine two related questions on whether and how tax aggressiveness of firms is associated with shareholder wealth in a new context – mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The first study investigates whether and how the tax aggressiveness of the acquirers and targets affects shareholder wealth. I present the idea of tax aggressiveness transfer whereby the acquirer’s propensity for tax planning applies to its target’s tax function after the change in ownership. I measure the degree of tax aggressiveness transfer using the relative tax aggressiveness of the acquirer and target (i.e., the difference in tax aggressiveness between the two firms). I find that acquisitions of more tax aggressive targets by less tax aggressive acquirers generate significantly lower acquisition gains. I also document weaker evidence that acquisitions of less tax aggressive targets by more tax aggressive acquirers generate higher acquisition gains. That is, the results suggest that the shareholder wealth effects of tax aggressiveness transfer are driven by the value-destroying effect of decreases in tax aggressiveness. Cross-sectional analyses reveal that the acquirer’s governance is a significant determinant of the shareholder wealth effects of tax aggressiveness transfer. Specifically, the results indicate that, when acquirers are well-governed, acquisitions of targets with lower tax aggressiveness by acquirers with higher tax aggressiveness are value-enhancing. Similarly, acquisitions of targets with higher tax aggressiveness by acquirers with lower tax aggressiveness are value-destroying. These findings are robust to various measures of tax aggressiveness. In sum, I find that tax aggressiveness transfer is a significant determinant of value creation or destruction in M&A. The second study is devoted to studying whether and how the target’s participation of tax shelters – an extreme form of tax aggressiveness – matters in acquirer’s valuation of the target firm. Using a novel dataset that identifies targets’ non-participation in tax shelters, I find that the target’s non-sheltering status is associated with a higher takeover premium, indicating that acquirers reward targets for not engaging in tax sheltering. This positive association is stronger for targets that are more opaque and for acquirers that are less tax aggressive. In addition, I find that the target’s non-sheltering status is positively associated with acquirer returns for acquirers that are weakly governed and for targets that are more opaque. Overall, my findings suggest that the target’s non-sheltering status is relevant in acquirers’ valuation of the target, and that the valuation benefits of the target’s non-participation in tax shelters are mainly accrued to the target’s own shareholders rather than to those of the acquiring firm.

Tax Havens Abstract The issue of tax havens is a frequently discussed topic of recent years, both by taxpayers and tax advisors and by the financial administration. This is due to EU and OECD activity in this area and increased legislative activity regulating harmful practices of tax havens The aim of this work is to summarize tax havens. Therefore, will I focus on states in Europe, multinationals and direct corporate taxation. The main initiatives are the OECD initiative against BEPS and the EU tax avoidance package (ATAD, CCCTB, CCTB, DAC). Tax havens can be simply defined as states in which the taxpayer is less taxed than the in the state of source of income. In a broader sense, it is not only lower taxation but also mediation of the lack of transparency of beneficial owners towards the tax authorities in the state of the source of income. In the first part of this thesis I deal with the basic terms that are connected to tax havens. These are the elements of the tax, the definition of tax havens, tax evasion, tax avoidance, tax optimization, tax planning. The second part deals with the symptoms of tax havens, where I show examples of harmful practices. In this section, I focus on Double Irish with Dutch Sandwich, transfer pricing, abuse of double tax treaties, harmful tax practices in relationship to tax...

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Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie verhandeling handel oor die belastingimplikasies wat uit die aankoop en verkoop van ondernemings in Suid-Afrika voortspruit. Aandag word gegee aan die bree belastingraamwerk van die transaksie en die verskillende maniere waarop 'n onderneming aangekoop of verkoop kan word. Vervolgens word die belastingimplikasies met betrekking tot die aankoop en die verkoop van 'n onderneming bespreek, deur die twee maniere waarop 1 n onderneming oorgeneem kan word, naamlik bateverkryging en belangverkryging, te ontleed. Belastingbeplanningsaspekte wat vir die koper en die verkoper van 'n onderneming van belang is, word ook geidentifiseer. 'n Metode word daarna ontwikkel om die belastingimplikasies te kwantifiseer sodat die belastingimplikasies deur die koper en die verkoper geevalueer kan word. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat 'n koper en verkoper van 'n onderneming groot belastingvoordele kan bewerkstellig deur die transaksie deeglik te beplan en noukeurig deur middel van 'n koopkontrak te struktureer. / This dissertation deals with the tax implications arising from the purchase and sale of enterprises in South Africa. Attention is given to the broad tax framework of the transaction and the different manners in which an enterprise can be purchased or sold. Next, the tax implications in relation to the purchase and sale of an enterprise are discussed by analysing the two manners in which an enterprise can be acquired, namely asset acquisition and share acquisition. Tax planning aspects of importance to the buyer and seller of an enterprise are also identified. Thereafter, a method is developed to quantify the tax implications in order that they can be evaluated by the buyer and seller. The conclusion is made that a buyer and seller of an enterprise can secure major tax benefits by planning the transaction properly and by structuring it carefully by means of a contract of sale. / Financial Accounting / M.Com. (Accounting)

O presente estudo analisa os contornos da estruturação elusiva de atos e negócios jurídicos no Direito Tributário brasileiro. Inicialmente, busca-se definir o conceito de planejamento tributário, abordando as diferentes noções de elisão fiscal, elusão fiscal e evasão fiscal, bem como os critérios contemplados pela doutrina brasileira de Direito Tributário para distinguir as condutas oponíveis e inoponíveis ao Fisco. Para melhor compreensão dos limites da conduta elusiva, examinam-se os princípios constitucionais pertinentes à interpretação da lei tributária e à qualificação da materialidade tributável, as quais são estudadas com vistas à percepção da relação entre Direito Tributário e Direito Privado. Nessa seara, destacam-se os esforços para compreensão da importância dos artigos 109, 116, incisos I e I, e 118 do Código Tributário Nacional em matéria de aplicação da lei tributária, principalmente para entender as consequências da caracterização de determinados vícios ou defeitos, do ponto de vista formal e material, nos atos e negócios jurídicos realizados pelos contribuintes com objetivo de economia fiscal. Nesse particular, examinam-se as figuras da simulação, abuso do direito, fraude à lei e abuso de formas à luz da doutrina brasileira, a fim de verificar sua aplicabilidade em matéria de qualificação da materialidade tributável, bem como com a intenção de identificar pontos em comum entre elas. Analisa-se a pertinência da utilização do postulado da proporcionalidade como parâmetro de interpretação das regras e princípios aplicáveis à estruturação elusiva de atos e negócios realizados pelos contribuintes. Uma vez compreendido o cenário da doutrina brasileira, parte-se para o estudo das figuras do propósito negocial, abuso de formas, fraude à lei e abuso do direito, de acordo com as experiências do Direito estrangeiro, respectivamente, nos Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Espanha e França, igualmente, com o objetivo de encontrar pontos em comum entre tais figuras. Assim, testa-se o postulado da proporcionalidade como ferramenta de compreensão das referidas figuras de acordo com os ordenamentos jurídicos dos respectivos países maternos. Feito esse estudo, busca-se refletir sobre a importação dos conceitos estrangeiros para fins de tratamento da elusão no Brasil, bem como sobre a necessidade da edição de uma norma geral antielusiva no Brasil. Por fim, são examinados os critérios e conceitos adotados pelo Conselho Administrativo de Recursos Fiscais do Ministério da Fazenda para avaliar as condutas elusivas praticadas pelos contribuintes, à luz dos parâmetros selecionados ao longo do trabalho. / This study examines the contours of the elusive structuring of acts and transactions according to the Brazilian Tax Law. Initially, it seeks to define the concept of tax planning, covering the different notions of tax avoidance, tax elusion and tax evasion, besides the criteria used by the Brazilian Tax Law doctrine to distinguish between conducts that may be or may be not enforceable against the Brazilian tax authorities. For a better understanding of the limits of an elusive conduct, this study examines the constitutional principles that are relevant to the interpretation of Tax Law and to the identification of taxable material facts, which are also analyzed in view of the relationship between Tax Law and Private Law. Regarding this subject, we highlight the efforts made to understand the importance of articles 109, 116, sections I and I, and 118 of the National Tax Code in regard to the enforcement of the Tax Law and, mainly, efforts made to understand the consequences of the characterization of certain formal or material defects or flaws in acts and transactions undertaken by taxpayers for the purpose of tax saving. In particular, we examine the discussions held by the Brazilian legal doctrine concerning simulation, abuse of law, fraus legis and abuse of forms in order to verify the applicability of those concepts to qualify taxable material facts and in order to identify similarities among them. This study also analyzes the appropriateness of using the postulate of proportionality as a parameter of interpretation of rules and principles applicable to the elusive structuring of acts and transactions conducted by taxpayers. Once the Brazilian doctrine is understood, we proceed to the study of the business purpose test, abuse of forms, fraus legis and abuse of law, respectively, according to the experiences in the United States, Germany, Spain and France. This analysis aims to find common ground between the referred figures. Thus, we test the postulate of proportionality as a tool to understand these figures pursuant to the legal systems of their respective countries of origin. Once this analysis is concluded, we try to reflect on the adoption of foreign concepts for treating tax elusion in Brazil, as well as on the need of editing a national general rule to avoid tax elusion. Finally, we examine the criteria and concepts adopted by the Administrative Board of Tax Appeals of the Ministry of Finance for assessing the elusive behaviors practiced by taxpayers in the light of the parameters selected throughout this study.

Issues and problems associated with the seriousness of tax non-compliance have increased dramatically over the years due to the widening tax gaps experienced by governments worldwide as a result of sophisticated transactions. To add to the severity of the situation are the concerns surrounding the difficulties associated with our abilities in defining what is meant by tax compliance, non-compliance and their relevant sub-categories. This study reviews both the international existing literature and New Zealand case law to examine how the concepts have (or have not) been defined over the years within particular studies and case law. The results are presented in the form of a critical literature review where the definitions (or descriptions) for the concepts are organized into tables, in order to compare how the definitions have (or have not) been ‘improved’ over the years. Lastly, this study discusses the implications regarding whether ‘universal’ definitions can or should be developed and attributed to each of the concepts in order to clear the murkiness between our understanding of the various concepts of tax compliance, non-compliance, and their sub-categories.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 91).

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie verhandeling handel oor die belastingimplikasies wat uit die aankoop en verkoop van ondernemings in Suid-Afrika voortspruit. Aandag word gegee aan die bree belastingraamwerk van die transaksie en die verskillende maniere waarop 'n onderneming aangekoop of verkoop kan word. Vervolgens word die belastingimplikasies met betrekking tot die aankoop en die verkoop van 'n onderneming bespreek, deur die twee maniere waarop 1 n onderneming oorgeneem kan word, naamlik bateverkryging en belangverkryging, te ontleed. Belastingbeplanningsaspekte wat vir die koper en die verkoper van 'n onderneming van belang is, word ook geidentifiseer. 'n Metode word daarna ontwikkel om die belastingimplikasies te kwantifiseer sodat die belastingimplikasies deur die koper en die verkoper geevalueer kan word. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat 'n koper en verkoper van 'n onderneming groot belastingvoordele kan bewerkstellig deur die transaksie deeglik te beplan en noukeurig deur middel van 'n koopkontrak te struktureer. / This dissertation deals with the tax implications arising from the purchase and sale of enterprises in South Africa. Attention is given to the broad tax framework of the transaction and the different manners in which an enterprise can be purchased or sold. Next, the tax implications in relation to the purchase and sale of an enterprise are discussed by analysing the two manners in which an enterprise can be acquired, namely asset acquisition and share acquisition. Tax planning aspects of importance to the buyer and seller of an enterprise are also identified. Thereafter, a method is developed to quantify the tax implications in order that they can be evaluated by the buyer and seller. The conclusion is made that a buyer and seller of an enterprise can secure major tax benefits by planning the transaction properly and by structuring it carefully by means of a contract of sale. / Financial Accounting / M.Com. (Accounting)