[This study examines several potential explanations for managers' choice between comprehensive and partial income tax allocation related to the indefinite deferral of income taxes allowed for Domestic International Sales Corporations (DISCs). Results from a sample of 320 firms with DISCs operational in 1972-74 are consistent with managers acting opportunistically to avoid debt covenant violations, political scrutiny, or to mask poor performance, even after controlling for firms' economic expectations and investment opportunity sets. In addition, a strong association is observed between external auditors' stated positions on the tax allocation issue and their client firms' method choice, a relatively new result in the literature.]

Examines potential explanations for managers' choice between comprehensive and partial income tax allocation related to the indefinite deferral of income taxes allowed for Domestic International Sales Corporations (DISCs). Association between external auditors' stated positions on the tax allocation issue and their firms method of choice; Institutional background of DISCs.

We investigate the use, determinants, and earnings effects of special purpose vehicles (SPVs). Based on a proxy of SPV activity that can be applied to a broad cross-section of firms over time, we find a two-and-a-half fold monotonic increase in the percentage of firms using at least one SPV during the eight-year period from 1997 through 2004. Tobit regressions of the determinants of SPV use show that SPV activity increases with financial reporting incentives and economic and tax motivations, but strong corporate governance tends to mitigate their use. In addition, the evidence is consistent with SPVs arranged for financial reporting purposes being associated with earnings management, whereas the same does not appear to be the case for SPVs set up mainly for economic, tax, and other reasons.