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ACCT3041: Tax Planning for Business

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Type Tied
Level 3
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Accounting

Prerequisites

  • ACCT2021 Introduction to Taxation OR ACCT2091 Taxation

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To enable students to apply technical knowledge and professional skills to identify and resolve tax problems that arise in the context of preparing tax computations and to advise on tax-efficient strategies for businesses and individuals.

Content

  • Ethics and law
  • Taxation of corporate entities
  • Taxation of unincorporated businesses including partnerships
  • Personal taxation

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • On the successful completion of this module, students will:
  • Have acquired the necessary technical knowledge and professional judgement to identify, explain and evaluate alternative tax treatments and solve tax planning problems
  • Have a thorough understanding of the ethical and legal implications of taxation planning strategies
  • Have knowledge of and be able to solve problems using the technical rules surrounding the taxation of corporate entities, unincorporated businesses including partnerships, and individuals
  • Have an appreciation of the interaction of taxes in given scenarios

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of the module, students should be able to:
  • determine the appropriate solutions to taxation issues, giving due consideration to the needs of clients and the interaction between taxes
  • consider the commercial context and impact of recommendations in making such judgements, as well as ethical and legal issues
  • analyse, evaluate and calculate the tax consequences of actions for individuals and companies and evaluate the interaction of taxes in given scenarios. This will involve advising and assisting clients in adhering to tax regulations.
  • advise on alternative tax treatments to defer or minimise tax liabilities
  • identify and discriminate between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning

Key Skills:

  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • Communication and reporting skills: The ability to communicate effectively: communicating complex ideas orally and in writing
  • The ability to think critically and creatively and to argue coherently

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module will be delivered through workshops which will deliver core knowledge and explain theories and models, supported by independent study.
  • Formative assessment will consist of case study questions.
  • Summative assessment will consist of a written assignment and a timed invigilated examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Workshops20Twice Weekly2 hours40 
Revision webinar1Once2 hours2 
Preparation, Reading and Independent Study158 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written AssignmentComponent Weighting: 30%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Individual written assignment2500 words max100
Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 70%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
In-person Written Examination2.5 hours100

Formative Assessment

Case study questions

More information

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