Impact of Capital Flight on Tax Revenue in Nigeria: A Co-integration Approach

Abstract

This study presents an empirical analysis of the impact of capital flight on tax revenue in Nigeria. We made use of secondary data collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin of various issues, Federal Inland Revenue Services and National Bureau of Statistics. The empirical measurement covers the sample period between 1980 and 2015. An Ordinary Least Square, Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test, Error Correction Mechanism and Co-integration test was adopted in the study. The results revealed that the Gross Domestic Product has a significant effect in the positive direction, while capital flight and inflation rate have a significant effect in the negative direction. The study recommended that the Federal Inland Revenue System, the department saddled with the responsibility of tax collection, should review the tax system and policies with the aim of plugging loopholes in the existing tax system thereby preventing organizations from evading and avoiding taxes.