Abstract

The objective of the study is to ascertain the effect of multiple taxation on financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Benue State. The population of the study was 816 and the sample size of 268 respondents was adopted using the Taro Yamane formula at a 5% error margin. The study adopted a survey design via questionnaire. Multiple regression was used for analysis in the study. The study found out that duplication of Business Premises Registration Tax, Development Levy and Market Taxes have a significant negative effect on financial performance of SMEs and as a result affects their profitability negatively. The study therefore, recommends that government should ensure that activities of touts in collecting illegal taxes from SMEs is stopped, and also government should desist from collecting similar taxes under different names and collapse all taxes of such nature into one form of tax. Finally, government should ensure that only the amount stipulated by law is collected as tax and a clear jurisdiction of each tax should be expressly stated.