EFFECTS OF TAX EVASION AND AVOIDANCE ON ECONOMY OF NIGERIA (ECONOMICS PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
ABSTRACT
This Research work attempts to look at the effect of Tax evasion and avoidance on economy of Nigeria and its capacity to reduce tax revenue growth (A case study of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service). Tax is a compulsory levy imposed by government on income individual, firms and household. It was also find out that an individual tax evader or avoider may engage in it simply because he is unable to appreciate any benefit that would accrue to him after payment of such tax. The study made use of secondary data obtained from Lagos internal revenue service on total revenue from taxation and total value of tax evasion. Questionnaires were also used to gathered information on the effect tax administration on tax evasion and avoidance. Data collected were analyzed using both Ordinary Least Square and Descriptive statistics (Chi-square) were used to analyze the questionnaire administered to Lagos state internal revenue service staff. Hypothesis on was tested using OLS while hypothesis two was tested using Chi-square techniques. Empirical results shown that increasing tax evasion and avoidance reduce government revenue growth in Lagos .It was also found that Tax Administration is responsible for the tax evasion and avoidance in Lagos State. This was due to lack of enforcement machineries which include, adequate manpower, computers and effective postal and communication system. Finally, it is therefore recommended that the government should create awareness in the mind of tax payers about the importance of taxation in development of national economy and the effects of tax evasion and avoidance in government revenue growth.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is richly blessed with oil and gas among other mineral resources, but the over dependence on oil revenue for the economic development of the country has left much to be deserved. According to Ariyo (1997) Nigeria’s over dependence on oil revenue to the total neglect of other revenue source was encouraged by the oil boom of 1973/74. This is unsustainable due to the fluctuation in the oil market which have in most cases plunged the nation into deficit budgets. It was the view of Popoola (2009) that Nigerian tax administration and practice be structured towards economic goal achievement since government budget for the year centres on the oil sector. While decrying the low productivity of the Nigerian tax system, “deficiencies in the tax administration and collection system, complex legislations and apathy on the part of those outside the tax net” were identified as some of the root causes says Ijewere 1991 and Ndekwu 1991 as cited in (Ariyo 1997). Those working in the informal sector of Nigerian economy do not see the need to pay tax whereas they dominate the economy. To them only, civil servants should pay tax on their earnings and this amount to over flogging the willing horse. Besides, the activities of the strong union in the formal sector do not even pave way for a successful tax policy implementation in the formal sector (Ayodele 2006). Even revenue collection officers seem to be lenient or even connive with those in the informal sector during enforcement of tax policies. All this leads to revenue loss. In other to reawaken the consciousness of Nigerian government and citizens on the effective use of taxation as a developmental tool, and examine the effect the tax system have so far on the economy; this research work becomes very relevant.
