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International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business
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P-ISSN: 2663-3140, E-ISSN: 2663-3159
International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business
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2023, Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A
ESG tax accounting and carbon pricing strategies: A corporate framework for measuring and reporting ESG-adjusted effective tax rates

Feyisayo Michael Ogunyemi

As global sustainability regulations intensify, corporations face growing pressure to incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into tax strategy, financial reporting, and long-term value assessment. Traditional effective tax rate (ETR) calculations focus solely on statutory obligations and recognized tax exposures, offering limited insight into how ESG-driven policies such as carbon pricing, pollution levies, green tax incentives, and supply-chain compliance costs influence a firm's real fiscal position. With many jurisdictions adopting carbon taxes, emissions-trading schemes, border-adjustment mechanisms, and ESG-linked fiscal incentives, companies require a structured tax-accounting framework that reflects sustainability impacts in measurable, financially comparable terms. This paper proposes an ESG-adjusted tax accounting model that integrates carbon pricing liabilities, decarbonization incentives, environmental remediation requirements, labor and governance-related compliance costs, and sustainability-linked tax credits into a unified effective tax rate calculation. The framework outlines clear methodologies for quantifying ESG-related tax exposures using carbon-intensity baselines, internal carbon-pricing models, Scope 1-3 emissions factors, and multi-jurisdictional tax-policy mapping. It further introduces reporting tools that translate these ESG-tax interactions into decision-useful financial insights, enabling firms to evaluate trade-offs between emissions-reduction investments, operational restructuring, and long-term tax-efficiency optimization. By aligning tax accounting with sustainability outcomes, the framework improves transparency for investors, enhances regulatory readiness, and allows corporations to anticipate fiscal impacts under evolving climate-policy regimes. Ultimately, ESG-adjusted ETR reporting supports more strategic capital allocation, strengthens risk management, and positions firms to navigate the future convergence of tax regulation, carbon markets, and global ESG accountability standards.

Pages : 59-69 | 128 Views | 64 Downloads


International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business
How to cite this article:
Feyisayo Michael Ogunyemi. ESG tax accounting and carbon pricing strategies: A corporate framework for measuring and reporting ESG-adjusted effective tax rates. Int J Foreign Trade Int Bus 2023;5(1):59-69. DOI: 10.33545/26633140.2023.v5.i1a.190
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