THE ROLE OF CORPORATE DIVERSIFICATION IN TAX AVOIDANCE IN COMPANIES LISTED IN THE TEHRAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: Tax avoidance means the use of gaps in tax laws for non-payment or late payment of taxes for companies, which is affected by different factors. The present study investigates the impact of diversification on tax avoidance in companies. To this end, the financial information of 384 firms during the period of 2011- 2016 in the Tehran Stock Exchange was examined. Methodology: In this research, the required financial information was summarized, classified, and calculated in Excel software and the data were analyzed by using E-views software. The dependent variables were effective tax rate and book-tax difference, while the independent variable was corporate diversification, which shows how to divide the market between business sectors (units) in a company. Control variables include size, financial leverage, company's loss-making, ROA, capital expenditures, R&D, market to book value, CEO ownership, and management of ownership. Conclusions/Results: The findings obtained from this study demonstrate that at a 95% confidence level, there is no significant relationship between diversification and effective tax rates in companies listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange. However, at a 90% confidence level, diversification reduces the effective tax rate. Furthermore, no reliable evidence was found regarding the effect of diversification on book-tax difference at a 95% confidence level. Novelty: Tax is a charge imposed by the government on all organizational profits. Various enterprises have complex operations due to their institutional structure, which makes it possible to increase tax avoidance in these companies. The production or sale of a variety of products (diversification) is bigger and has more complex organizational structures that increase the cost of management and non-management decisions, making it difficult for companies to coordinate their policies. Thematic classification: G10, M41