CONSEQUENCES OF THE NEW UK TAX EXEMPTION SYSTEM: EVIDENCE FROM MICRO-LEVEL DATA

Until 2009, the UK operated a system of worldwide taxation. Under this system, taxation of foreign income was deferred until repatriated as dividends, leaving UK-owned multinational firms the possibility of avoiding UK taxation by delaying dividend payments and keeping earnings abroad. In 2009, the UK switched to a system under which all foreign-earned income is exempted from taxation. We evaluate the effects of this reform on foreign affiliates of UK multinationals. Using an identification approach that quasi-randomises over the country of residence of the ultimate firm owners, we find that the reform significantly affected short-run repatriation behaviour.