Analysis of Principles and Practice of APLUC in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Land taxation is any levy that is land -based. Land based taxes  abound in Anambra State and they include: Companies income and Personal income Tax, Value Added Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Capital Transfer Tax, Stamp Duties  and recently the Land Use Charges. In an ideal situation, land –taxes actas tool to manage land use, urban density and expansion, discourage speculative transactions and encourage sustainable development. This study analyzed Anambra State land –based taxes with a view to ascertaining the principles and objectives behind them. The paper identified various land – based taxes and in order to determine the principle and practice behind them. The study adopted a survey design to generate data from respondents(landlord and tenants).To examine the principles and practice of  land based taxes in Anambra State, questionnaires were administered on Estate surveyors and Tax Assessors. They were entreated to give their views on property rate practice and Land use charge law in Anambra State. A percentage of their responses to the questions were taken to measure the weight of their views. They opined that for a land based tax to be progressive, equity and fairness should be emphasized as the major objective and not just revenue as seen in the land –based taxation in Anambra State. They were also of the view that   increased land values which an owner enjoys are not due to his efforts but that of government as supported by public funds and a good tax system should amongst all seek to redistribute this wealth by upholding the principle of equity and fairness, together with other principles.