Although derivatives can be extraordinarily complex, mundane instruments generate all three types of tax savings. To illustrate, consider the most common derivative: a generic (“plain vanilla”) interest rate swap in which fixed interest rate payments are exchanged for floating rate payments. By transforming fixed rate debt into variable rate debt (and vice versa), an interest rate swap hedges a firm's exposure to interest rate risk. Because changes in the value of the swap and underlying debt are recognized in taxable income together (Keyes,2008), a swap can reduce the volatility of taxable income and, thus, generate Benign tax savings for firms with convex tax functions.
Although derivatives can be extraordinarily complex