Effect of Indirect Taxation on Economic Development of Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of indirect taxation on economic development of Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; evaluate the effect of petroleum profit tax on the real gross domestic product of Nigeria, examine the impact of company income tax on the gross domestic product of Nigeria and determine the impact of value added tax on the real gross domestic product of Nigeria. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The study made use of secondary data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletins for the relevant years. The hypotheses were tested using granger causality statistical tool. The following findings were made for this study: Petroleum profit tax has no significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. Company income tax has significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria and value added tax have significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. The study concluded that; about 96% changes in the dependent variable are explained by the independent variable. The study recommends that Government should make available more non-interest loans available to farmers as a way of diversifying the economy from its over dependency in the oil sector, and that strict penalties should be meted to people who avoid and evade tax payments in order to minimize the incidence of tax evasion and tax avoidance.

Keywords: taxation, revenue, industrialization, unemployment