THE RELEVANCE OF TAX INCENTIVES TOWARDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

One of the common tools for macro-economic development in developing countries is tax incentives.  Government tries to attract domestic and foreign capital using tax incentives to boost her economic activities. Many countries have determined that the tax incentives covered by the tax incentive provision should be defined precisely to ensure that tax incentive is granted only for an agreed concession. These countries have concluded that general references to special incentive laws are designed to promote economic development. This is commonly done through a direct reference to domestic legislation.

Tax incentives are generally intended to encourage the start-up of new operations. It has therefore been found appropriate in some treaties to place a time limit on the availability of the tax sparing relief for each tax payer, thereby preventing tax sparing from becoming a permanent concession.  

Every investor will consider the host country’s tax system in their investment decisions along with other important matters such as security of lives and properties, infrastructural facilities, political and economic policies.

Tax incentives are measures that provide for more favorable tax treatment of certain activities or sectors compare to what is generally obtainable.

Under this description, a general cut in the tax rate or generous depreciation scheme applicable to all firms would not be considered as tax incentives   (Klemm 2009:3)

In order words, tax incentives are special arrangements in tax laws to attract, retain or increase investment in a particular sector or for a particular purpose over a given period of time.

Nigeria’s economic decline since the 1980’s has created a hostile environment that is unfavorable to entrepreneurial success. The Nigerian infrastructure limits entrepreneurial effectiveness and is a barrier to success. The high cost of carrying out business operations in Nigeria, such as the lack of adequate supply of electricity and other basic amenities. Tax incentives are not sufficient to investors without favorable business environment especially needed infrastructure that will enable them to compete in price, quality and quantity

internationally.

The main argument of this study is based on the pressures caused by the unemployment and tax incentives are mainly analyzed as a tool of entrepreneurship attraction to reduce the pressure of unemployment. Empirical analysis is used to illustrate the effects of tax incentives, highlighting pioneer tax incentives. The new and old arguments are combined to produce a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate tax incentives. As an additional innovation, this study inevitably repeats many well-known points of the area of study in order to provide a self contained discussion of the issue.

A good economic development policy should contain the following elements.  

a.       GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

Goals and objectives create a context for accountability as regards the use of economic and developmental incentives. Common goals used in economic development include targeted economic sector growth, business retention and/or recruitment, geographic focus, job creation, light mitigation, improving on distressed areas and environmental improvements.

b.      FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TOOLS AND LIMITATIONS 

An economic development policy should define the type of incentives  and the extent to which the government will use them.  For example, the  government may decide to grant an entitlement to any firm that meets the minimum required qualification or may choose to provide incentives based   on the assessment of individual firms. Government may also establish maximum funding for a particular process.   

c.       EVALUATION PROCESS 

A clearly defined evaluation process should be outlined in an economic development policy for the purpose of consultancy and transparency which include: 

i)           How the purpose of the tax incentive measures up to establish  development criteria.  

ii)         A cost benefit analysis 

 An evaluation of a tax based impact both in terms of increase in taxable value. 

Economic and industrial development incentives Act (2008) both financial and non-financial include a broad range of tools ranging from expected planning processes to direct or indirect funding. Government often use these incentives to pursue specific economic goals such as tax base diversification, job creation, business retention, and expansion that are usually set by the government which consists of  both the federal, state and local practice. The use of financial incentives to benefit private parties introduces risk factors which are not generally present in other public financial management areas. For this reason, economic incentives must be based on a policy that establishes parameters for their appropriation in   relation to the economic developmental goals of the government.

It is therefore desirable that a research with emphasis on the significance of tax incentives and infrastructural development be conducted.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There are different views on the introduction of tax incentives as a catalyst economic growth and development.  Empirical studies like those of (Sanni 2002) and (Dotun 2009) has reported different views on tax incentives as a catalyst for economic growth and development. A school of thought believes that tax incentive propels economic growth and development  while others believes that it reduces revenue to the government  therefore it is counter- productive, as there will be no means of financing government projects.

However, most of the economic measures put in place by government in the past to stimulate economy have not yielded significant positive result hence tax incentive cannot be held responsible for economic stagnation.

Litwack (2013) argues that seventy million Nigerians are poor. According to World Bank (2012) Nigeria country profile statistics indicates an income inequality of 0.49; this is correlated with differential access to infrastructural amenities.

This problem of high poverty rate due to youth unemployment may be solved by the influence of local and foreign direct investment to some extent but the question is whether or not tax incentives are the right approach to solve them, when there is no model for measuring the influence of tax incentives in investment.

An advantage of tax incentives is that it is used for infrastructural development and entrepreneurship. But, most tax experts, consultants, Individuals and economic analysts ignored or criticized the incentive for the following reasons: 

1.  That the impacts of the incentives are not effective in the economy.  

2.  That the exemption privilege not granted to all firms places some of them at a competitive advantage over others.  

3.  That the incentive granted are not adequate for developmental and industrial growth. 

4.  Most management of firms, companies and industries lack the awareness of the incentive. 

5.  The unwillingness of some companies and individuals to claim the incentive because they do not understand the role of such.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Tax incentive is a strong fiscal measure or policy which can stimulate investment and savings leading to capital formation thereby enhancing industrial growth and economic development. This capital acquisition can be used positively in economic and industrial development of companies and could be of individual effective usage in self development. In deciding if these incentives can stimulate the companies and individuals to invest in the economy, one basic fact to be checked is if the company or industry concerned decided to go into business because of the incentive offered.  

The focus of this study is:

i.   To investigate the relevance of tax incentives towards economic development 

ii. To know the effects of tax incentives on manufacturing companies iii. To determine the extent at which good infrastructural facilities provided from tax incentives can support entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

iv.   To determine if individuals/companies are aware of tax incentives.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The four pertinent questions raised in this study are:

i)            What is the relevance of tax incentive towards economic development? ii)   What are the effects of tax incentives on manufacturing companies?

iii)                What are the extents at which good infrastructural facilities from tax incentives can support entrepreneurship in Nigeria?

iv)                What are the extents at which companies are aware of tax incentives?

 1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH

Tax incentive scheme is an economic policy which exists among other competing alternatives. The scheme may be an inducement towards rightful investment and securing a proposal on private investors. This means that if the scheme achieves its aim of implementation, then, the benefits expected from these incentives should be able to justify the cost with the following results/benefits: 

a.            As a result of the creation of more industries and with the expansion of the existing ones, the standard of living of the populace will be positively affected.  

b.            Tax incentives will help the small scale industries to spring up and aid in the expansion of existing ones thereby improving the standard of living of the populace and its surrounding environs.  

c.            The tax incentive scheme leading to economic diversification will also result in increasing urban and rural development.  It is the intention of the researcher to look into ways and the extent to which the existing tax incentives are being used by the entrepreneurs, in setting up industries and establishments which aids infrastructural development and economic growth.  This study will be of significant value to pioneer companies and entrepreneurs because it clearly shows the impact of tax incentives on their business.

Other interested parties that will benefit are students, researchers and providers of infrastructural facilities.

It will also be of immense use to tax practitioners, government agencies (e.g. Budget Office) and revenue authorities for information and policy formulation.

1.7  SCOPE AND LIMITATION 

The area of this study covers individuals and organizations in Nigeria. This study covers the significance of tax incentives and infrastructural development on entrepreneurship. The research study will be limited to the use of questionnaires and oral interviews when appropriate and to a review of related literature (review of relevant books and journals) that could provide an insight into the impact of tax incentives on infrastructural development and entrepreneurship. Data collection will be restricted to Afe babalola  university.

The constraints of this study may be attributed to: 

1.  Inherent limitations of the analytical method of gathering information such as the uncooperative attitude of the respondents.  

2.  Irrelevant or unreliable information obtained from oral interviews. This is based on the degree of the respondent’s truthfulness in answering the questions raised during oral interviews. Some of the respondents thought that the research work is meant to intrude in their privacy and thus, were not ready to give relevant information.  

3.  Also encountered was the problem of getting an exeat from the school

1.8. ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY

Chapter one provides all the background information of the study, statement of the problem, objectives, research questions, research hypothesis, scope and limitations of the study.

 Chapter two shows the review of related literature, conceptual framework ,theoretical framework and empirical analysis of the study. 

Chapter three is shows the hypothesis ,research design and instruments. 

Chapter four shows data analysis and interpretation of the study 

Chapter five is the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

1.9 DEFINITION OF UNFAMILIAR TERMS

1)  Tax incentive: This is a provision where a country applies a tax credit against taxes owned on foreign income that is equivalent to the tax exemption provided by the foreign country. Tax incentives policies are especially important to developing countries in their effort to attract investment.

2)  Entrepreneurship:  this is the capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage business venture along with any of its risks in order to make profit.

3)  Infrastructure:  this is the relatively permanent and foundational capital investment of a country, firm, or project that underlines and makes possible all its economic activities. It includes administration, telecommunications, transportation, education, health care, research and development and training facilities, power supply.

4)  Investment: this is the money committed or property acquired for future income.

5)  Populace: the people living in a particular area or country.

6)  Capital: this is the money invested in a business to generate income.   

7)  Revenue: this is the income generated from sale of goods, services or any other use of capital or assets, associated with the main operations of an organization before any costs or expenses are deducted.

8)  Unemployment: this is the total number of able men and women of working age seeking paid work.

9)  Poverty: this is the condition where people’s needs for basic amenities such as food, clothing and shelter are not being met.

10)       LOSS RELIEF- A company under this Act may be elected to defer the  set-off or loss incurred to another period.