Using corporate tax regimes to promote economic growth and development: a legal analysis of the Nigerian corporate tax regime.

Onyejekwe, Chisa

Abstract

The recession that started in the late 2000s has created significant economic and financial challenges globally and within nation states. In particular, oil-producing countries have been further affected by the fall in oil price. It is therefore crucial that alternative, more sustainable methods of sourcing revenue be investigated and utilised. The purpose of this thesis therefore is to examine the use of corporate tax regimes as a sustainable revenue source in promoting economic growth and development in Nigeria. Using a qualitative legal analysis, of the Nigerian corporate tax regime and through an extensive literature review, the thesis identified a number of key findings. Inter alia, that revenue from corporation tax structures are a sustainable revenue source mostly because of the amount of revenue generated through Multinational Corporations (MNCs). Secondly, the existing Nigerian corporation tax regime is in need of reform as there are developmental challenges, including lack of implementation and ambiguous legislation, which continue to thwart its success. Therefore, this leads to establishing how, and to what extent that Nigeria can use its corporate tax regime as a sustainable revenue source. The answer to this lies in the legal framework of corporate tax regimes. This thesis argues that legal uncertainties in the corporate tax regimes are the principal reason for the challenges faced by both state governments and MNCs. The thesis concludes by recommending reforms to the Nigerian tax regime while also recommending a tax compliance strategy for both domestic and international corporate tax regimes. This will set a foundation for corporation tax regimes as a sustainable revenue generation source for developing countries.

Citation

ONYEJEKWE, N.C. 2017. Using corporate tax regimes to promote economic growth and development: a legal analysis of the Nigerian corporate tax regime. Robert Gordon University, PhD thesis.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 21, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 21, 2017
• Keywords: Corporation tax; Law and economic development; International corporate tax; Compliance and enforcement; Developing countries; Nigeria; United Kingdom; Tax evasion and avoidance; Multinational corporations
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2509
• Award Date: Jan 31, 2017