ACCT254-16S1 (C) Semester One 2016

Introduction to Taxation

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 22 February 2016
End Date: Sunday, 26 June 2016
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 4 March 2016
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 20 May 2016

Description

The general principles of taxation. Topics include: the taxation of income from business, employment, personal property sales, deductions, depreciation, leases and trading stock. The course will provide a working knowledge of income tax, GST, and FBT.

The objective of ACCT254 is to give students an introduction into the general principles of taxation. Topics include the taxation of income from business, income from employment, personal property sales, deductions, depreciation, leases and trading stock. The course will provide a working knowledge of income tax, GST, and FBT.

Because of both the limited time available and the increasing complexity of taxes, especially income tax, it is not possible to cover all aspects of tax law in the course. Therefore, reference should be made to the course outline for the topics that will probably be covered. The focus for an introductory course in taxation will be the legislation as it is the legislation that largely gives rise to the rights and obligations in the area of taxation. The course builds on the foundations laid in the ACCT103 ‘Introduction to Taxation’ and ‘Residency’ lecture topics.

At the conclusion of the course, students should have an appreciation of the basic applications of the taxation laws. Students should be able to determine the net income of a taxpayer and have an appreciation of the importance of taxation in business decisions.

Completion of the course should also provide students with a framework to evaluate taxation issues, a foundation for further study in the advanced taxation courses, and provide a general level of awareness of taxation matters for future employment. The course also seeks to further develop student oral and written communication skills.

Learning Outcomes

Having engaged in learning during the course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding (e.g. explain, discuss and apply) of:

1.  Demonstrate a general understanding of the concept of the capital/revenue distinction;
2.  Critically evaluate whether an activity constitutes a business for income tax purposes;
3.  Determine the appropriate tax treatment of various income receipts and deductions;
4.  Demonstrate an understanding of both the Fringe Benefit Tax and Goods and Services Tax regimes;
5.  Demonstrate an understanding of the tax treatment of partnerships and trusts;
6.  Demonstrate an understanding of depreciation, leases and trading stock from a tax perspective.

Prerequisites

ACCT103 or ACIS103

Restrictions

ACIS254, AFIS254

Co-requisites

One of ACCT152, ACIS152, LAWS101.

Equivalent Courses

ACIS254

Timetable Note

An optional tax 'clinic' may be held to assist in your preparation for the final exam. Details will be advised later in the course.

Course Coordinator

Andrew Maples

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Tutorial Preparation 10%
Term Test One 20%
Term Test Two 30%
Final Examination 40%

Textbooks / Resources

TEXT BOOKS AND RECOMMENDED READING
The importance of regular reading is stressed.  Students are advised to become familiar with several of the most important Revenue Acts (particularly the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985, Income Tax Act 2007, Tax Administration Act 1994, and Taxation Review Authorities Act 1994), and refer to Thomson Reuters New Zealand Taxation (2016 edition), and any other readings given in lectures.  The Thomson Reuters New Zealand Taxation 2016 Legislation Handbook or equivalent CCH/Thomson Reuters Legislation set of tax statutes may be brought into the term tests and final exam provided it is unmarked (highlighting and underlining excepted).  It should be noted that tabs, indexing and grouping of pages are not permitted.  
Required texts are:
Thomson Reuters New Zealand Taxation 2016: Principles, Cases and Questions.
Thomson Reuters New Zealand Taxation 2016: Legislation Handbook.

Additional Resources are:
CCH New Zealand Master Tax Guide
Inland Revenue website: www.ird.govt.nz
www.legislation.govt.nz

Course links

Course Outline 2016 Outline
Learn

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $759.00

International fee $3,125.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Department of Accounting and Information Systems .

All ACCT254 Occurrences

  • ACCT254-16S1 (C) Semester One 2016