FSDH Advocates Strategies To Raise VAT Revenue by 218%

FSDH has proposed hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and recommended measures for increasing VAT revenue by 218 percent.

The bank, in its monthly Economic and Financial Market Outlook, stressed that the proposed increase in VAT rate to 10 percent from five percent will reduce household consumption and compliance with tax payments.

Speaking at a media presentation of the outlook, Head of Research, FSDH Merchant Bank, Ayo Akinwunmi, said: “FSDH Research’s analysis shows that government can earn more revenue from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in Nigeria by developing strategies to increase household consumption and increase VAT compliance

“The consumption data and revenue from VAT in the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shows that the ratio of VAT revenue to household consumption averaged 1.07 percent  between 2014 and 2018. The highest of 1.15 percent was recorded in 2014.  This is significantly lower than the actual VAT rate of five percent

“It is important to note however, that some household consumption items are exempt from VAT. Therefore, the ratio of VAT revenue to household that government may not necessarily be equal to the VAT rate of five percent.