International Research Journal of Accounting, Finance and Banking (IRJAFB)

EFFECT OF TRANSFER PRICING REGULATIONS ON MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS’ TAX BURDEN OF QUOTED INDUSTRIAL GOOD FIRMS IN NIGERIA.

Authors

  • Ike, Romanus Chukwuma (Ph. D) Admiralty University of Nigeria, Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences Department of Accounting, Business Administration and Economics, Delta State, Nigeria.
  • Ibhawaegbele, Peter Akhigbe (Ph. D) Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Faculty of Management Sciences, Department of Accounting, Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of transfer pricing regulations on the tax burden of quoted industrial good firms in Nigeria between 2014 and 2023. It employed a panel regression model to examine the relationships between related party transactions (RPT), effective tax rate (ETR), cash effective tax rate (CETR), and the tax-to-GDP ratio. Findings reveal that RPT significantly increased both ETR and CETR, indicating that stricter regulations have compelled firms to align intra-company transactions with arm’s length principles. However, RPT did not have a statistically significant effect on the tax-to-GDP ratio. Firm size had no significant impact on ETR and CETR but exhibited a marginally positive influence on the tax-to-GDP ratio. These results suggest that while transfer pricing regulations have improved tax compliance and burden distribution among multinational corporations, their broader macroeconomic impact remains inconclusive.

Keywords:

Transfer Pricing, Multinational Corporations, Tax Burden, Effective Tax Rate, Cash Effective Tax Rate, Tax-to-GDP Ratio, Related Party Transactions

Published

2025-02-14

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14871385

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Ike, R. C., & Ibhawaegbele, P. A. (2025). EFFECT OF TRANSFER PRICING REGULATIONS ON MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS’ TAX BURDEN OF QUOTED INDUSTRIAL GOOD FIRMS IN NIGERIA. International Research Journal of Accounting, Finance and Banking (IRJAFB), 16(1), 18–33. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14871385

References

Adeyeye, G. B., Bale, A. L. K., Iredele, O. O., & Adeyeye, A. M. (2022). Transfer Pricing Regulations and Tax Compliance among Nigerian Companies. Global Journal of Accounting, 8(1), 46-61.

Agbo, E. I. (2024). Transfer Pricing Development For Taxation Purposes: Africa As The Focal Point. Innovations, 77, 1678-1695

Al-Hamadeen, R., Almarayeh, T., Fakhoury, D., Rezqallah, J., Zraiqat, N. and Marzouka, Z. (2023). Transfer pricing applicability: Perceptions of tax professionals. Corporate Governance and Organisational Behaviour Review, 7(1), 166–177.

Aliyu, A. O., Kumai, N. S., & Mustapha, L. O. (2022). A Conceptual Review of Nigerian Tax Administration in Globalisation and Profit Shifting Challenges. Open Access Library Journal, 9(7), 1-10.

Amidu, M., Coffie, W., & Acquah, P. (2019). Transfer pricing, earnings management and tax avoidance of firms in Ghana. Journal of Financial Crime, 26(1), 235-259.

Awotomilusi, N. S., Akinadewo, I. S., Akinola, A. O., Oluwagbade, O. I., Olipede, D. E. and Igbekoyi, O. E. (2024). Transfer Pricing and Financial Performance of Listed Multinational Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria. African Journal of Business & Economic Research, 19(2).

Beer, S., De Mooij, R., & Liu, L. (2020). International corporate tax avoidance: A review of the channels, magnitudes, and blind spots. Journal of economic surveys, 34(3), 660-688.

Choi, J. P., Furusawa, T., & Ishikawa, J. (2020). Transfer pricing regulation and tax competition. Journal of International Economics, 127, 103367.

Clausing, K. A. (2003). Tax-motivated transfer pricing and the impact of financial reporting. National Tax Journal, 56(4), 685-705. https://doi.org/10.1086/ntj41789409

Cobham, A., & Janský, P. (2017). Global distribution of revenue loss from tax avoidance: Re-estimation and country results (No. 2017/55). WIDER Working Paper.

Davies, R. B., Martin, J., Parenti, M. and Toubal, F. (2018). Knocking on tax haven’s door: Multinational firms and transfer pricing. Review of Economics and Statistics, 100(1), 120-134.

De Mooij, R., & Liu, L. (2020). At a cost: The real effects of transfer pricing regulations. IMF Economic Review, 68, 268-306.

Desai, M. A. and Dharmapala, D. (2006). Corporate tax avoidance and high-powered incentives. Journal of financial Economics, 79(1), 145-179.

Fasita, E., Firmansyah, A., & Irawan, F. (2022). Transfer Pricing Aggressiveness, Thin Capitalisation, Political Connection, Tax Avoidance: Does Corporate Governance Have A Role in Indonesia?. Riset Akuntansi dan Keuangan Indonesia, 7(1), 63-93.

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). (2018). Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Regulation No. 1, 2018. FIRS.

Ftouhi, K., & Ghardallou, W. (2020). International tax planning techniques: a review of the literature. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 21(2), 329-343.

Gunawan, C. T., & Surjandari, D. A. (2022). The Effect of Transfer Pricing, Capital Intensity, and Earnings Management on Tax Avoidance. Journal of Economics, Finance and Accounting Studies, 4(2), 184-190.

Hanlon, M. and Heitzman, S. (2010). A review of tax research. Journal of accounting and Economics, 50(2-3), 127-178.

Hanlon, M., Lester, R., & Verdi, R. (2015). The effect of repatriation tax costs on US multinational investment. Journal of Financial Economics, 116(1), 179-196.

Hohmann, A., Riedel, N., & Zinke, I. (2024). Tax havens: A developing country perspective. In Research Handbook on the Economics of Tax Havens (pp. 140-158). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Irawan, F., Kinanti, A., & Suhendra, M. (2020). The impact of transfer pricing and earning management on tax avoidance. Talent Dev & Excellence, 12(3), 3203-3216.

Kalra, A., & Afzal, M. N. I. (2023). Transfer pricing practices in multinational corporations and their effects on developing countries' tax revenue: a systematic literature review. International Trade, Politics and Development, 7(3), 172-190.

KPMG. (2021). Nigeria fiscal guide 2021. KPMG. https://home.kpmg/ng/en/home/insights/2021/03/nigeria-fiscal-guide-2021.html

Meckling, W. H., & Jensen, M. C. (1976). Theory of the Firm. Managerial Behaviour, Agency Costs and Ownership Structure.

Muhammadi, A. H., Ahmed, Z. and Habib, A. (2016). Multinational transfer pricing of intangible assets: Indonesian tax auditors’ perspectives. Asian Review of Accounting, 24(3), 313-337.

Nadhifah, M., & Arif, A. (2020). Transfer pricing, thin capitalisation, financial distress, earning management, dan capital intensity teradai tax avoidance diodrast oled sales growth. Jurnal Magister Akuntansi Trisakti, 7(2), 145-170.

Nkechinyere, A. J. (2018). Transfer Pricing: A Tool for Tax Evasion & Avoidance by Multinational Corporations in Nigeria (Doctoral Dissertation, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos).

Nwoye, U. J., Obiorah, J. N., & Chidiebere, A. C. (2023). ILLEGAL TAXATION VERSUS TAX HOLIDAY: IMPLICATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE. Journal of the Management Sciences, 60(4), 1-25.

Ogidiaka, O., Agbi, E. S., & Mustapha, L. O. (2022). Impact of transfer pricing on revenue generation and debt profile in Nigeria. Journal of Accounting and Taxation, 14(2), 112-117.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2017). OECD transfer pricing guidelines for multinational enterprises and tax administrations 2017. OECD Publishing.

Osho, A. E., & Ogedengbe, F. F. (2023). Transfer Pricing, Social Factors and Financial Performance of Universal Companies in Nigeria. International Journal Of Economics And Financial Management, 7(5), 81-98.

Osho, A. E., Efuntade, A. O., & Jemiseye-Dav, R. A. (2020). The impact of taxation on transfer pricing in Nigeria economy. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics, 177, 139-151.

PwC. (2018). Nigeria’s transfer pricing regulations: Key considerations for multinationals. PwC Nigeria.

Scott, W. R. (2013). Institutions and organisations: Ideas, interests, and identities. Sage publications.

Sebele-Mpofu, F., Mashiri, E., & Schwartz, S. C. (2021). An exposition of transfer pricing motives, strategies and their implementation in tax avoidance by MNEs in developing countries. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1), 1944007.

Tarmidi, D., Fadjarenie, A., & Oktris, L. (2023). Corporate Tax Policy: Impact Tunnelling Incentive, Debt Covenant, And Transfer Pricing. Jurnal Akuntansi, 27(1), 157-175.

United Nations (UN). (2017). Practical manual on transfer pricing for developing countries. United Nations Publishing.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (2018). World investment report 2018: Investment and new industrial policies. UNCTAD.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (2020). World investment report 2020: International production beyond the pandemic. UNCTAD.

Victory, O. I. C., & Rufus, A. I. (2021). Strategic Repositioning of Tax Administration in Nigeria Through Transfer Pricing. Journal of Finance and Accounting, 9(5), 190-199.

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.