Is Tax Aggressiveness Associated with Tax Litigation Risk? Evidence from D&O Insurance

Review of Accounting Studies, Vol. 27, pp. 519-569, June 2022

69 Pages Posted: 2 Mar 2018 Last revised: 12 Aug 2022

See all articles by Dain C. Donelson

Dain C. Donelson

University of Iowa

Jennifer L. Glenn

Ohio State University (OSU) - Department of Accounting & Management Information Systems

Christopher G. Yust

Texas A&M University

Date Written: November 1, 2020

Abstract

This study uses directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance data to examine the relation between tax aggressiveness and tax litigation risk. D&O insurance covers litigation costs for tax-related cases. Thus, D&O insurance premiums provide an independent and direct assessment of the risk in a firm’s tax aggressiveness strategies, which mitigates some of the challenges in studying tax risk. Based on pricing decisions, D&O insurers appear to view tax aggressiveness, as measured by industry- and size-adjusted cash effective tax rates (a measure where higher rates are associated with more tax aggressiveness), as increasing tax-related litigation risk. Regarding tax uncertainty, premiums increase (decrease) as unrecognized tax benefits (UTB-related settlements with tax authorities) increase. Finally, D&O insurers focus on firms with outbound tax haven activity when pricing tax aggressiveness. Overall, this suggests D&O insurers include aspects of both low taxes and tax uncertainty when pricing tax litigation risk.

Keywords: Tax Litigation, Tax Risk, Tax Aggressiveness, Tax Uncertainty, Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

JEL Classification: D82, G30, H26, K22, K41, M41

Suggested Citation

Donelson, Dain C. and Glenn, Jennifer L. and Yust, Christopher, Is Tax Aggressiveness Associated with Tax Litigation Risk? Evidence from D&O Insurance (November 1, 2020). Review of Accounting Studies, Vol. 27, pp. 519-569, June 2022, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3127802 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3127802

Dain C. Donelson

University of Iowa ( email )

108 Pappajohn Business Building
Iowa City, 52242-1000
United States

Jennifer L. Glenn

Ohio State University (OSU) - Department of Accounting & Management Information Systems ( email )

2100 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
United States

Christopher Yust (Contact Author)

Texas A&M University ( email )

430 Wehner
College Station, TX 77843-4353
United States
979.845.3439 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.christopheryust.com

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