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Pay for(eign) performance: CEO pay incentives for foreign tax savings

delete2026-05-25
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PRE
AI
K
Kathleen Boylen
F
Fabio B. Gaertner *
M
Melissa Martin
DOI:10.1016/j.jacceco.2026.101903delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
This paper investigates the relation between executive compensation and corporate tax policies, with a focus on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Using a pay-performance sensitivity framework, we analyze the differing compensation rewards associated with domestic and foreign pre-tax incomes. Our findings reveal that, before the TCJA, executives received significantly higher rewards for foreign income, encouraging them to shift income abroad. The TCJA reduced this disparity, bringing rewards for domestic and foreign income into closer alignment. A cross-sectional analysis shows that firms assessing CEO performance based on after-tax income exhibit greater sensitivity to changes in tax policy, establishing the presence of a tax mechanism. Additional tests eliminate alternative nontax explanations related to protectionist trade policies and changes in foreign market growth opportunities. These results highlight the significant impact of executive incentives on corporate tax behavior and the effectiveness of tax policy reforms.
Keywords:
Executive Compensation
Corporate Tax Policy
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Pay-Performance Sensitivity
Tax Incentives

Journal

Journal of Accounting and Economics cover
Journal of Accounting and Economics
IF:
6.8
Papers:
1.5K
Citations:
1.7W

Organization

U
university of illinois chicago
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1.8K
Papers: 887
Citations: 0
C
california state university
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668
Papers: 455
Citations: 4
U
university of wisconsin-madison
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2.9K
Papers: 1.2K
Citations: 2
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