Abstract

The effects of income taxes on investment are not properly dealt with even within a framework, where the simple present-value rule is correct. Johansson and Samuelson have shown the neutrality of a tax on „economic income". In contrast to their studies, there are additional approaches of neutral income taxation. Concerning the decision between different investment opportunities, a tax on income as proposed by Schanz-Haig-Simons is also neutral. An income tax on the economic profit of an single investment affects the optimal duration of capital, while an income tax on income according to Schanz-Haig-Simons does not. If the rate of lending is different from the rate of borrowing, a tax on the economic profit is generally aneutral. With equal circumstances a tax on income in the sense of Schanz-Haig-Simons still guarantees neutrality. There exists no general neutral income tax with risky payments. Different income definitions lead to different effects on risk-taking. A tax on the Schanz-Haig-Simons income favours risky investments.