PROFESSIONALISM IN TAX PRACTICE: TAX INTERMEDIARIES, MARINES TAXATION, AVIATION TAXATION, BANKING TAXATION, INSURANCE TAXATION AND BANKRUPTCY TAXATION

Abstract

Professionalism in tax practice is central to the integrity, efficiency, and legitimacy of any modern tax system. Nigeria being an economy increasingly reliant on internally generated revenue and confronting persistent fiscal constraints, the professional conduct of tax practitioners assumes heightened significance. Lawyers, accountants, tax consultants, and other intermediaries serve as the operational bridge between taxpayers and the tax authorities; their expertise, ethical judgement, and compliance with statutory mandates fundamentally shape the quality of tax administration and the outcomes of tax governance. The research highlights emerging issues particularly the expanding role of tax intermediaries, the influence of digital technology and electronic filing systems, and the challenges posed by aggressive tax planning and cross-border transactions. A comparative reference to selected jurisdictions underscores the widening gap between Nigerian practice and international best standards in tax professionalism, compliance culture, and regulatory oversight. This paper undertakes a doctrinal, analytical, and comparative examination of professionalism within Nigerian tax practice, interrogating both the legal frameworks and the ethical parameters that define the responsibilities of tax professionals. Anchored on key legal instruments such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007, the Companies Income Tax Act, the Personal Income Tax Act, and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Act 2004, the study explores the statutory obligations, regulatory expectations, and disciplinary mechanisms designed to guide tax practitioners. It further employs a sectoral analysis to illuminate the complexities and specialised professional demands inherent in marine taxation, aviation taxation, banking and financial services taxation, insurance taxation, and bankruptcy/insolvency taxation, each of which possesses unique regulatory nuances that test the limits of professional competence and ethical compliance. Findings indicate that although Nigeria possesses a fairly comprehensive regulatory architecture, significant challenges persist. These include inadequate enforcement of professional discipline, regulatory overlaps between the FIRS, Joint Tax Board, and professional bodies, poor taxpayer education, low digital literacy among practitioners, and incidences of unethical practices such as tax evasion facilitation, abusive tax planning, and misrepresentation of taxpayer information. The paper concludes that fostering professionalism in Nigerian tax practice requires a multi-layered approach centred on enhanced regulatory synergy, robust capacity building, digitilisation of tax processes, clear ethical guidelines, and periodic professional reorientation. Strengthening these areas is essential for building a resilient tax administration system capable of supporting sustainable national development.