THE ETHICS OF TAX EVASION; PERCEPTUAL EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN AKWA IBOM STATE)

63 PAGES (7130 WORDS) Accounting Project

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of tax evasion to the payment of tax on ethical reasons. A case study of some selected Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. Extensive review of the existing literature was made and relevant information was extracted. The Design of the study is descriptive field survey and observation method and the study was conducted at the selected Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. The instrument for data collection is structured questionnaire and the source of data used was primary and secondary sources. The data collected were analyzed using Chi-square test (X2). Based on the analysis of this research, the researcher discovered the following as her data findings, that there is widespread ethical support for tax evasion, the study showed varying degree of justification for tax evasion, that tax evasion is ethical sometime and also found that the perceived government corruption can make respondent to evade tax. Therefore, until those underlying cause are addressed, tax evasion may continue to be widespread.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page - - - - - - - -
Approval page - - - - - - - - ii
Certification - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - v
Abstract - - - - - - - - vi
Table of Contents - - - - - - - vii
List of tables - - - - - - - - viii

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Historical background to the study - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of the Problems - - - - - 4
1.3 Objective of the study - - - - - - 5
1.4 Research Questions - - - - - - 5
1.5 Research Hypothesis - - - - - - 6
1.6 Significance of the study - - - - - 6
1.7 Scope of the Study - - - - - - 7
1.8 Definition of Terms - - - - - - 7

CHAPTER TWO – LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Empirical investigation of tax evasion - - - 8
2.2 Overview of taxation system in Nigeria - - - 10
2.3 Taxation as a tool for fiscal policy - - - - 13
2.4 Problem of effective tax administration in Akwa Ibom State - - - - - - - - - 16
2.5 Tax administration bodies in Nigeria - - - - 19
2.6 Objective of taxation - - - - - - 19
2.7 Tax effects - - - - - - - - 22
2.8 Agents of tax administration - - - - - 23
2.9 Three opinions on the ethic of tax evasion - - 24
2.10 Reasons for tax evasion - - - - - 26
2.11 Forms of tax evasion - - - - - - 27
2.12 Comparison of tax evasion and tax avoidance - - 29
2.13 Different between tax avoidance and tax evasion - 30

CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design - - - - - - - 34
3.2 Sources of data - - - - - - - 35
3.3 Area of the study - - - - - - - 35
3.4 Population of the study - - - - - - 35
3.5 Sampling size determination and sampling technique.... - 36
3.6 Reliability Test - - - - - - - 37
3.7 Validity Test - - - - - - - 38
3.8 Method of data analysis - - - - - 38
3.9 Decision criterion for validation of hypothesis - - 40

CHAPTER FOUR – RESULT
4.1 presentation of data - - - - - - 41
4.2 Test of Hypothesis - - - - - - 52

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary - - - - - - - - 61
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 62
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - 62
References
Questionnaire