International trends in company tax rates — implications for Australia’s company income tax

Worldwide statutory company tax rates have been declining. The choice of Australia’s statutory company tax rate is a balancing act, as Australia’s company income tax system has two basic roles. The first, to tax the income of Australian residents, is not affected directly by the international trend. The second, to tax the Australian source income of foreign investors, may be affected by that trend. Reducing Australia’s company tax rate (to reduce tax on foreign investors) could, but may not, improve national welfare by increasing foreign investment in Australia. Australia’s current statutory company tax rate is around the OECD average and is less than or equal to the rates in our major sources and destinations of foreign investment.