| Abstract: | Abstract: This study examines determinants of the decision of New Zealand firms to change their income tax accounting method from comprehensive to partial allocation. New Zealand provides a unique setting to investigate this issue because it allows firms the choice to use either the comprehensive or partial allocation procedures to account for income tax. I find that efficient contracting and debt‐related opportunistic factors are both important determinants that influence firms' decisions to change to partial. Specifically, the results indicate that the change is related to the extent of investment in depreciable assets and the closeness of firms to their debt covenant restrictions. |
