Disclosure of tax information as corporate social responsibility : an Australian study

Abstract

This study investigates whether tax information disclosure can be pursued as corporate social responsibility (CSR). There is currently a research gap on whether public companies can pursue tax information disclosure as a CSR initiative, despite the rise of private and public initiatives towards corporate tax responsibility and tax disclosure (Gonzalez & Pardo 2019). As a result, this study proposes a theoretical framework by which to examine tax information disclosure as a CSR initiative. It investigates the willingness of a sample of 60 Australian companies to disclose tax information as a CSR initiative using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. A thematic analysis of statements on tax information disclosure is undertaken to determine the perceptions of companies towards tax information disclosure requirements. Additionally, an analysis of the correlation between the CSR initiatives and the commitments toward tax information reveals a weak positive relationship. The findings of this study show that the commitment towards tax information disclosure is made by companies primarily to meet legal compliance, rather than to meet the expectations of society. The study suggests there is scope for future research to investigate the expectations of society regarding tax information disclosure and payment of a fair share of tax for companies as part of their CSR obligations.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English