Corporate Minimum Tax and the Elasticity of Taxable Income: Evidence from Administrative Tax Records

We examine business responses to a minimum tax (MT) that prescribed fixed floors on corporate tax liability while permitting MT credit carryforwards. Using 2010–2020 tax-return data on all Slovak corporations, we find that many companies immediately relocated from reporting zero taxable income toward bunching at the new floors. We infer the elasticity of taxable income (ETI) to be between 0.33 and 2.28 across value-added tax (VAT) and turnover categories, and quantify the marginal efficiency burden (MEB) of the corporation tax. Given limited extensive-margin responses, our evidence suggests the MT reduced the overall efficiency burden while raising additional tax revenue. (JEL D22, E62, H25, H32)

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Publication Details

Journal
American Economic Journal Economic Policy
Published
2025-04-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20230108
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.13
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article

Corporate Minimum Tax and the Elasticity of Taxable Income: Evidence from Administrative Tax Records

Branislav Žúdel, Jaroslav Bukovina, Tomáš Lichard, Ján Palguta
2 citations
American Economic Journal Economic Policy
Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth
3.13
article

Corporate Minimum Tax and the Elasticity of Taxable Income: Evidence from Administrative Tax Records

Branislav Žúdel, Jaroslav Bukovina, Tomáš Lichard, Ján Palguta
article en
2 citations

Abstract

We examine business responses to a minimum tax (MT) that prescribed fixed floors on corporate tax liability while permitting MT credit carryforwards. Using 2010–2020 tax-return data on all Slovak corporations, we find that many companies immediately relocated from reporting zero taxable income toward bunching at the new floors. We infer the elasticity of taxable income (ETI) to be between 0.33 and 2.28 across value-added tax (VAT) and turnover categories, and quantify the marginal efficiency burden (MEB) of the corporation tax. Given limited extensive-margin responses, our evidence suggests the MT reduced the overall efficiency burden while raising additional tax revenue. (JEL D22, E62, H25, H32)

American Economic Journal Economic PolicyVol. 17(2)
Masaryk University (CZ), Prague University of Economics and Business (CZ), CUNEF Universidad
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth
3.13
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