International Variations in Tax Disclosures

Abstract

We examine the tax disclosures of 161 large IFRS-reporting companies in five countries by studying in detail how they carry out two numerical reconciliations mandated by IAS 12. Using a variety of approaches, we conclude that there are systematic differences in IFRS reporting practice between companies from different countries. However, we also find varied reporting practices within certain industries such as the extractive industry. Based on our observations, we question whether the requirements of the present standard are sufficiently explicit and concise to lead to understandable and comparable tax disclosures. We identify a number of elements of IAS 12 that could be improved.