How Much Does Tax Erode Fund Excess Return?

Abstract

We model the tax drag from active funds management based on reported monthly holdings of active equity funds. Tax drag erodes 65% of the 0.74% excess return in Broad Market funds, but only 21% of the 1.80% excess return in Small-Cap funds for Australian superannuation (pension) fund investors. Tax drag varies with investment style; market state, and is most detrimental during bull markets; and fund turnover. For high-income individual investors, tax drag is exacerbated to the extent that active management only generates meaningful after-tax excess return for Small-Cap funds of certain styles.

Keywords: after-tax fund performance, active management, portfolio holdings, trades

JEL Classification: G23