Page 55 - CITN 2017 Journal
P. 55
IMPACT OF TAXATION ON THE
GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA
By
Ikani Stephen OCHENI
Department of Accounting, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of taxation on the performance of small and mediumscale
enterprises (SMEs) in Nigerian. The quest for this study came as a result of the present high
mortality rate of SMEs and also considering the fact that SMEs serve as source of
employment generation; innovation, competition, and economic dynamism in the
development of Nigerian Economy. The quest for economic development in Nigeria and
the attendant improvement in service delivery to the populace has taken its toll on the
economic environment. Primary data was collected with the use of questionnaire and data
were analyzed using descriptive statistics method, correlation matrix and binary logit. The
study hypotheses were also validated and tested using z-test statistics to establish p < 0.05
significant differences. The research hypotheses for this study were tested using z-test
statistics to establish p < 0.05 significant differences. The analysis revealed that there is no
significant difference in the mean opinion scores of managers and accountants on the best
tax policy that encourages tax compliance by SMEs in Nigeria. It was also revealed that
there is no significant difference in the mean opinion scores of managers and accountants
of the implications of tax policy on SMEs growth. The paper therefore recommended that
the rate of tax incentives and exemptions should be increased by government and should
promulgate a policy that will help to avoid illegal taxes, such as community levy, boys or
youth levy and as well as association or union levy. There should be consistency in tax
policy that will cushion the effects of factors that militate against the expansion of SMEs
in relation to their ability to pay taxes by government.
Key words: Nigeria, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Tax policy
JEL CLASSIFICATION: H20, H25, M21
48