<![CDATA[Taxes are one of the government’s primary sources of revenue and play an important role in financing public expenditures. Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the financial factors that affect corporate income tax expense. Based on Agency Theory and Trade-Off Theory, this study aims to examine the effects of financial determinants, namely profitability, leverage, capital intensity, and operating expenses, on corporate income tax expense in cyclical consumer sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2022–2024 period. The cyclical consumer sector was selected because of its sensitivity to changes in economic conditions and consumer purchasing power. This study employs a quantitative approach using secondary data obtained from annual financial reports. Using purposive sampling, 38 companies were selected, resulting in 114 firm-year observations. The data were analyzed using panel data regression with EViews 13, and the Random Effect Model (REM) was selected as the appropriate estimation model. The results show that profitability and operating expenses have a positive and significant effect on corporate income tax expense. Meanwhile, leverage has a positive but insignificant effect, while capital intensity has a negative but insignificant effect on corporate income tax expense. These findings provide additional empirical evidence regarding the financial determinants of corporate income tax expense, particularly in Indonesia’s cyclical consumer sector. From a practical perspective, the findings may assist corporate management in evaluating profitability, operating expenses, and financing decisions in relation to their implications for corporate income tax expense.]]>
