Tax havens and transfer pricing strategies: Insights from emerging economies

Abstract

This study examines multinational companies in emerging markets, exploring their transfer pricing strategies for establishing tax havens. These companies employ various mechanisms (e.g., transfer pricing, profit transfers, and the reallocation of intangible assets) to minimize their tax liabilities. Today an increasing level of intangible assets facilitates smoother profit transfers to jurisdictions with lower tax burdens. Furthermore, these companies relocate their productive activities to tax havens, creating opportunities for corporate tax evasion and avoidance. Despite the efforts of governments and international organizations to propose the adoption of a minimum tax rate for different countries, these companies have been able to reduce or completely avoid paying taxes. Our study sample includes companies headquartered in emerging countries between 2010 and 2020. The study introduces some innovative elements, such as the variable “transfer pricing intensity,” which is derived from manual data collection. This variable enables analysis of the transfer pricing levels employed by multinational companies. In addition, a noteworthy contribution of this research is the use of an unconventional tax proxy known as AREA, which monitors the tax benefits associated with short- and long-term debts. The results demonstrate that these companies employ a diverse range of instruments, often in combination, to reduce taxes in their conglomerates. These findings contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of the intricacies surrounding corporate tax optimization practices and provide valuable insights for governments in formulating robust policies that promote transparency and accountability in the international tax landscape.