FORENSIC AUDIT SERVICES AND TAX FRAUD IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The objective of the study was to examine the impact of forensic audit services on tax fraud in Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey research design was employed in the study. The population of the study consisted of staff of FIRS. The total enumerative of the entire population (60) was taken in the study. The research instrument employed was the questionnaire, which was passed validity and reliability. The questionnaire was administered and data derived was analysed using the descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings of the study revealed that background investigation has a significant negative link with tax fraud, suggesting that background investigation has a detrimental influence on tax fraud. There is a substantial negative link between Investigative Interview and Tax Fraud, indicating that the more intense an investigative interview, the more likely taxpayer involvement in tax fraud would be revealed. There is a considerable negative link between Analytical Procedure and Tax Fraud. There is a negative significant relationship between pre-trial support and tax fraud there is a negative significant link between expert witnessing and tax fraud, demonstrating that using an expert witness has a negative impact on tax fraud. Based on the findings, the study recommends that tax investigating authorities should use background investigation analytical process, expert witnessing, and investigative interview to actively seek for signs of fraud in areas where there is a high chance of fraudulent tax activities.