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Intertemporal income shifting and the taxation of business owner-managers

Author

Listed:
  • Helen Miller

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Thomas Pope

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Kate Smith

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract
We use newly linked tax records to show that the large responses of UK company owner-managers to personal taxes are due to intertemporal income shifting and not to reductions in real business activity. Around half of this shifting is short-term and helps prevent volatile incomes being taxed more heavily under progressive personal taxes. The remainder re?ects systemic pro?t retention over long periods to take advantage of lower tax rates, including preferential treatment of capital gains. We ?nd no evidence that this tax-induced retention increases business investment. It does, however, substantially reduce the tax revenue raised from high income business owners.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Miller & Thomas Pope & Kate Smith, 2021. "Intertemporal income shifting and the taxation of business owner-managers," IFS Working Papers W21/49, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:21/49
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Advani, Arun & Koenig, Felix & Pessina, Lorenzo & Summers, Andy, 2020. "Importing Inequality: Immigration and the Top 1 Percent," IZA Discussion Papers 13731, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Stuart Adam & Helen Miller, 2019. "Principles and practice of taxing small business," IFS Working Papers W19/31, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    3. Arun Advani & Hannah Tarrant, 2021. "Behavioural responses to a wealth tax," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3-4), pages 509-537, September.
    4. Stuart Adam & James Browne & David Phillips & Barra Roantree, 2021. "Frictions and taxpayer responses: evidence from bunching at personal tax thresholds," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 28(3), pages 612-653, June.
    5. Wojciech Kopczuk & Eric Zwick, 2020. "Business Incomes at the Top," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(4), pages 27-51, Fall.
    6. Stuart Adam & Helen Miller, 2021. "The economic arguments for and against a wealth tax," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3-4), pages 457-483, September.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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