Tax Deferral and Mutual Fund Inflows: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment

41 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2014

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 22, 2013

Abstract

We propose a new method to identify the impact of a change in the tax burden on mutual fund inflows, exploiting a switch from an accrual-based to a realization-based tax regime. We use quasi-experimental data from Italy where, starting from July 2011, the tax regime for domestic mutual funds was changed from an accruals basis to a realization basis, while the taxation of foreign funds remained on a realization basis. We find that the reform has had a positive effect on net inflows of Italian funds (the treated group) with respect to foreign funds (the control group). The effect is both economically and statistically significant. Moreover, we find no evidence that the increase in the demand for Italian funds came at the expense of foreign funds.

Keywords: mutual funds, net flows, taxation

JEL Classification: G20, G2, H2

Suggested Citation

Cappelletti, Giuseppe and Guazzarotti, Giovanni and Tommasino, Pietro, Tax Deferral and Mutual Fund Inflows: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment (November 22, 2013). Bank of Italy Temi di Discussione (Working Paper) No. 938, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2405423 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2405423

Giuseppe Cappelletti

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Giovanni Guazzarotti

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Pietro Tommasino (Contact Author)

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

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