THE PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF COMPANY INCOME TAX ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Every country in the world tends to generate income through tax administration. In Nigeria the company income tax administration aims and tries to tax each company in the state more effectively. However the level at which the company income tax Administration in Nigeria tend to achieve its desired goals and objectives depends mostly on the tax office and the company that is operating in Abia state.

For the tax Administration in Nigeria to be effective the aspect of the companies been taxed should be considered adequately and more accurately so that the company would provide reliable financial performance information for assessment. In which the federal government derives its income.

Due to the ever changing tax administration policies in the country and modifications in the aspect of taxation in Nigeria some companies want to stay afloat and employ all kind of strategies that benefits them. Some of them evade tax and some avoid tax.

When tax in Nigeria is paid by the various companies operating in the state the revenue collected are used to provide utility services and providing additional government services such as in education and transport which are of great importance to the growth of the economy of the state and to the country.

Tax administration in the country is a very important aspect that assist in the provision of revenue to the economy of which the avoidance of tax payment by the companies in the country in general and in Abia state in particular will result to a serious damage to the revenue which should have been generated and used for the provision of infrastructure.

When a company is been taxed by the federal board of inland revenue (FBIR) the company is meant to give an accurate information about their income but some companies go to the extent of forgery in provision of their documents which gives an incorrect information to the board, thereby causing reduction in their tax assessment.

Based on the above observation or trend of this action over time this study set out to examine the problems and prospects of the company income tax administration in Nigeria and in Abia state to be precise.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

The tax administration (collection and assessment of tax from companies is a difficult task. The assessment and collection of companies’ income tax as at when due has been a problem associated with company income tax administration in Nigeria. These problem through observation has been influenced by the following understated factors.

Fraudulent under-declaration of income and making of incorrect returns by companies coupled with collusion of officials of FBIR staff with company under assessment.

The problem of tax evasion is real and so much in Nigerian economy where individuals and companies use all means to evade tax.

The fact that the federal board of inland revenue (FBIR) is unable to bring their entities within the letter of the law is of a serious concern mostly in the area of highly government spending borrowing and when there is pressing need to improve revenue generations from all sources including taxation.

The problems of revenue losses to government due to fraudulent and illegal deals from her citizens and organisations within the country prompt the need for this research work.

1.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To ascertain whether sharp practices in administration between the staff of FBIR and assess company contributed to tax evasion
2. To ascertain if there is any variation between financial statement used for AGM and that sent to FBIR for tax administration
3. To ascertain whether loss of confidence in government officials has contributed to tax evasion.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

For the purpose of this study the following question were raised for an indept study of this research work;

1. To what extent has sharp practices in administration between the staff of the FBIR and assess company contributed to tax evasion
2. To what extent has there been variation between financial statement used for AGM and that sent to FBIR for tax administration
3. Has loss of confidence in government officials contributed to tax evasion

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS ONE;

Ho:- Sharp practices in tax administration between the staff of FBIR and assessed company does not contributes to tax evasion

H1:- Sharp practices in tax administration between the staff of FBIR and assessed company contributes to tax evasion

HYPOTHESIS TWO;

Ho:- There is variation between the financial statement used for AGM and that used for tax administration of assessed company.

H1:- There is no variation between the financial statement used for AGM and that used for tax administration of assessed company 

HYPOTHESIS THREE;

H0:- The loss of confidence in government does not contribute to tax evasion

H1:- The loss of confidence in government contributes to tax evasion.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The result of this study will throw more light on the problems of companies’ income tax administration in Abia state Nigeria. The special emphasis on the federal Board of Inland revenue (FBIR) will highlight peculiar problems and difficulties in administering the company’s’ income tax would increase the revenue generation of the government.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study shows the problems and prospect of Nigerian company tax with Abia State Federal Board of Inland Revenue as the case study. The period covered by this research enabled the research to be reliable.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research study is limited to detailed study of (FBIR) and the relevant Act setting it up with particular emphasis on the overall administration of the act in Abia state.

Gathering of relevant data for this study was a hectic task it is also expected that there will be limited mostly in areas of questionnaire distribution answering the question sincerely and returning them (especially the tax officials) due to fear of the unknown. 

1.9 THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY:- This is the body appointed by the board for the purpose of assessing tax payable.
2. COMPANY:- A company is defined by section 3(1) of the act as “any co-operation(other than a corporation sole) established by or under any law in force in Nigeria or elsewhere”. The relevant tax authority in respect of company income tax is the Federal Board of inland revenue.
3. COMPANIES INCOME TAX:- This is the tax imposed on the profit made by companies.
4. EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS:- Horngren (1984) defines efficiency as an optimum relation between input and output whereas effectiveness is the accomplishment of pre-date runnin objective. Tax collected can only be said to be effective when a high proportion is actually collected. Similarly for efficiency and assessment should be less than the revenue accruing from such expenditure.

5. FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE (FIRS):- This is the body set up by section 5.1 of ITA (1979) and charged with the overall administration of companies income tax act.
6. INCOME:- There is no statement that defines the word “income” in taxation status. However, for the purpose of this study reference is made to section 5.4 (2) (6) of income tax management act (ITMA)1961, which recognizes income as including any amount deemed to be income under the act.
7. TAX ARREARS:- These are assessment of tax during the preceding period whose payment are received at the current assessment period.
8. TAX AVOIDANCE:- This is the arrangement of the affairs of the taxpayer in such a way as to reduce tax payable. Tax avoidance is not a criminal or crime punishable under the law. This was clearly stated in Lord Tumbling declared as follows in his judgement.

Every man is entitled to order his affair so that the tax attached under the appropriate tax act is less than is otherwise would be.

According to Longman Dictionary of contemporary English, tax avoidance are Legal way of paying less tax.

9. TAX BASE:- This is simply that object on which tax should be imposed or applies.
10. TAX EVASION:- Is a fraudulent, dishonest intentional distortions or concealment of fingers by the taxpayer in order to reduce the tax payable. It is a criminal and deceitful was of not paying tax or reducing ones tax liability. These offences are punishable under law.

According to Longman Dictionary of contemporary English Tax evasion are the illegal ways of paying less tax.

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