Book Description

Every government is desirous of expanding its tax net, increasing revenue and creating a business ambience that will enhance business growth and enthrall investors. The question of how government policies should be structured to tackle excessive expenses, source for funds to meet these needs and properly manage resources are problems governments always attempt to remedy. For a long time, companies in Nigeria groaned about the underlying issues that troubled the tax system which in turn affected the ease of doing business. The tax laws seemed divorced from the societal changes that were occurring and the government in reaction, started by reviewing its Tax policy and subsequently amended its Tax Laws. This paper assesses how the Nigerian Tax Policy of 2017 has influenced and impacted certain aspects of the Finance Act of 2019, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also addresses issues bordering on the legal status of the policy, multiple taxation and enforcement of the policy. Finally, it canvases arguments for the policy to be rooted in the Constitution; however this is insuperable without the amendment of the Constitution. If done, it's imagined that it will address the issue of the taxing powers including provisions for enforcement and deliberate internalization of taxation principles for the regulation of a healthy economy and achieving an effective tax administration. The author however applauds the reforms certain to impact Nigeria's digital economic climate.