International Journal of Academic Research in Public Policy and Governance

search-icon

Firm Characteristics and Tax Aggressiveness of Listed Firms in Nigeria: Empirical Evidence

Open access
The study examined firm characteristics and tax aggressiveness of listed firms in Nigeria using pool and panel data for the period 2012 to 2016. The data used was sourced from the annual reports of the selected firms. Both the panel and dynamic panel methods were used to analyze the data generated. Findings from the study revealed that firm size exerts positive and significant effects on tax aggressiveness. There is significant and positive relationship between external audit quality and tax aggressiveness. Leverage is significant and exerts negative relationship with tax aggressiveness. Interest charges have significant and positive relationship with tax aggressiveness. Based on the robust empirical findings obtained in this study, it is recommendations that listed firms in Nigeria should make it a practice to adequately compensate managers / board of directors strategically as this will assist to reduce their tendency to engage in rent seeking / managerial opportunism, mitigate agency problem, enhance operational efficiency and lead to lower effective tax rate.
Akanksha, J., Jayant, R. K., & Constanza, M. (2013).Corporate tax aggressiveness and the role of debt. Journal of Finance & Economics, 16(4), 108 – 123.
Aliani, K., & Zarai, A. (2012).The board of directors and the corporate tax planning: empirical evidence from Tunisia. International Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting, 2(2), 142 -156.
Boussaidi, A., & Hamed, M. S. (2015). The impact of governance mechanisms on tax Aggressiveness: Empirical evidence from Tunisian context. Journal of Asian Business Strategy, 5(1), 1-12, 2015
DeAngelo, L. (1981). Auditor size and audit quality. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 3(3), 183-199.
Derashid, C., & Zhang, H. (2003). Effective tax rates and the "industrial policy" hypothesis: Evidence from Malaysia.Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 12: 45-62.
Desai, M., & Dharmapala, D.(2006). Corporate tax avoidance and high-power incentive.Journal of Financial Economics, 79, 145-179.
Didar, R., Matsusaka, J. G., & Ozbas, O. (2014). When are out- side directors effective? Journal of Financial Economics, 96 (2), 195–214
Dyreng, S., Hanlon, M., & Maydew, E. (2010). The effects of executives on corporate tax avoidance. The Accounting Review, 85(4), 1 163-1 189.
Eiya, O., & Ogbeide, S. O. (2014). Corporate governance and audit quality of quoted companies: Evidence from Nigeria. Journal of Finance and Accounting Research, 6(2), 61-73
Frank, M. M., Lynch, J. L., & Rego, S. O. (2009). Are financial and tax reporting aggressiveness reflective of broader corporate policies? The Accounting Review, 84(2), 467 – 496.
Gaeremynck, A., Meulen, S. V. D., & Willekens, M. (2008). Audit-firm portfolio characteristics and client financial reporting quality. European Accounting Review, 17, (2)243–270 .
Gallemore, J., Maydew, E. L., & Thornock, J. R. (2014). The reputational costs of tax avoidance. Contemporary Accounting Research, 31(4).1103-1133.
Graham, J. R. (1996). Debt and the marginal tax rate. Journal of Financial Economics, 41, 41-74.
Hairul, A. A., Ibrahim, A. S., & Siti, N. S. O. (2014). Corporate ownership, governance and tax avoidance: an interactive effects. Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 164, 150 – 160.
Hasan, I., Keung, C., Wu, Q., & Zhang, H. (2013). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: The effect of corporate tax avoidance on the cost of bank loans. Journal of Financial Economics, 113(1), 109-130.
Hashemi, S., & Mehrabi, M. (2008). Identifying tax factors affecting the advantage of using debt for financing of companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Accounting and Auditing Studies,15(54), 137-154.
Hoi,C. K., Wu, Q., & Zhang, H. (2013). Is corporate social responsibility (CSR) associated with tax avoidance? Evidence from irresponsible CSR activities. The Accounting Review, 88(6).2025-2059.
Ilaboya, O. J., Obasi, R., & Izevbekhai, M. O. (2016). Firm level characteristics and effective tax rate. ICAN academic conference proceedings, 573-593.
Jensen, M. C. (1986). Agency cost of free cash flow, corporate finance, and takeovers. American Economic Review, 76( 2).
Jensen, M., & Meckling, W. (1976). Theory of the firm: managerial behaviour, agency costs and ownership Structure.Journal of Financial Economics, 3, 305-360.
Kanagaretnam, K., Lee, J., Lim, C. Y., & Lobo, G. J. (2016). Relation between auditor quality and corporate tax aggressiveness: implication of cross – country institutional differences. Journal of Practice and Theory, 35(4), 105 – 135.
Koanantachai, R. (2013). Tax aggressiveness, corporate governance and firm value: an evidence from Thailand, being a published master of science in financial, submitted to faculty of commerce and accountancy, Thaminaat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Konstantinos, K. (2016). Aggressive tax planning: differentiating those playing the game from those who don’t. Journal of Economic Psychology, 25, 307 – 329.
Kraft, A. (2014),
In-Text Citation: (Ogbeide, 2017)
To Cite this Article: Ogbeide, S. O. (2017). Firm Characteristics and Tax Aggressiveness of Listed Firms in Nigeria: Empirical Evidence. International Journal of Academic Research in Public Policy and Governace, 4(1), 62–75.