Bachelor of Accounting Sciences: Taxation

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences: Taxation (BCompt (Taxation)) is to help equip learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become taxation specialists within the accounting profession. The qualification will develop a capacity for logical analysis of legal taxation issues required to operate within public and private institutions. This qualification helps the learner to:

• Fulfil the 'Qualifying Educational' requirement imposed by the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
• Register with the South African institute of Professional Accountants as 'Tax Practitioners'.

A qualifying learner will be able to

• Identify, explain and apply taxation principles and process to transactions and operations to ensure compliance with taxation legislation.
• Analyse and interrogate information to make practical recommendations on taxation problems.
• Solve complex taxation problems from a legal and business perspective.
• Demonstrate understanding of taxation legislation and regulations.
• Apply taxation practices to provide taxation opinions and advice.
• Employ taxation disciplines, values, ethics and attitudes as required of professionals in the field of taxation.

Rationale

Persons involved in the Tax profession in South Africa face an ever-changing and highly legislated/regulated environment. In the light of this, tax professionals will be required to register with a Professional Board/Body regulating Tax Practitioners and will also need to register with the South African Revenue Services (SARS) as Tax Practitioners. The Bachelor of Accounting Sciences: Taxation, NQF Level 7, will facilitate the achievement of this registration for qualifying learners and help them comply with any current or proposed legislation around this issue.

The qualification will also provide the Accounting industry with learners who can pursue careers as tax consultants/professionals to the National Treasury, the general public and to public and private organisations. It is structured to meet the requirements of proficiency in taxation practice and covers disciplines such as Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Economics and Taxation.

It is assumed that the learner

• Is competent in the knowledge, skills and values associated with accounting practices at NQF Level 4.
• Is competent in the language of tuition.
• Has sufficient basic Information Technology skills to be able to use a computer.

Recognition of Prior Learning

All admission through Recognition of Prior Learning must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unisa Policy.

The Recognition of Prior Learning for the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences: Taxation, NQF Level 7, may be used

• To grant admission to learners who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission.
• To grant learners credits towards the achievement of the qualification.

Access to the Qualification

To gain access to this qualification learners require one of the following

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) certified by Umalusi with an AR of 4 or better, (a 'D' symbol on Matric Certificates), in four recognised 20-credit subjects, and coupled with the language of tuition.
• A National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor Degree study.
• A Senior Certificate issued prior to 2008.
• A Further Education and Training Certificate at NQF Level 4.

Learners are to complete

• 28 compulsory Modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 336 credits.
• Either the Optional Module in Taxation or Optional Module in Economics at NQF Level 7, totalling 24 credits.

All modules are worth 12 credits each.

Compulsory Modules

Modules at NQF Level 5

• Financial Accounting 1501.
• Taxation 1501.
• Economics 1501.
• Business Management 1501.
• Commercial Law 1501.
• End User Computing 1501.

Total credits at NQF level 5: 72.

Modules at NQF Level 6

• Financial Accounting 1601.
• Economics 1601.
• Business Management.
• Commercial Law 1502.
• Financial Accounting 2601.
• Management Accounting 2602.
• Taxation 2601.
• Economics 2601.
• Commercial Law 2602.
• Financial Accounting 2602.
• Auditing 2602.
• Economics 2602.
• Interpretation of Statutes 2601.
• Decision Sciences 1630.

Total credits for NQF Level 6: 168 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 7

• Financial Accounting 3701.
• Taxation 3701.
• Taxation 3702.
• Taxation 3703.
• Taxation 3704.
• Financial Accounting 3702.
• Internal Auditing 3702.
• Taxation 3707.

Total credits for NQF Level 7: 96 Credits.

Elective Modules

Learners are to choose the Taxation specialisation or the Economics specialisation as listed below

Taxation

• Taxation 3705.
• Taxation 3706.

OR

Economics

• Economics 3701.
• Economics 3704.

Total Credits for elective modules at NQF Level 7: 24 Credits.

1. Identify, explain and apply taxation principles and process to transactions and operations to ensure compliance with taxation legislation.
2. Analyse and interrogate information to make practical recommendations on taxation problems.
3. Solve complex taxation problems from a legal and business perspective.
4. Demonstrate understanding of taxation legislation and regulations.
5. Apply taxation practices to provide taxation opinions and advice.
6. Employ taxation disciplines, values, ethics and attitudes as required of professionals in the field of taxation.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

This qualification enables all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes. To be addressed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Taxation issues are identified in given scenarios.
• Taxation principles and processes are explained with examples.
• Business events are interpreted and analysed within the legal framework for taxation.
• Regional and national taxation principles are applied to solve taxation challenges and problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level outcome 2

• Taxation problems are identified, interpreted and explained within different contexts.
• Unbiased and balanced perspectives are provided for taxation problems.
• Different viewpoints are considered and evaluated to develop recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level outcome 3

• Relevant sources and authorities are identified and acquired to solve taxation problems.
• Legal sources and authorities are analysed and critically evaluated in terms of their applicability.
• The most authoritative materials are selected considering the economic impact of the solution.
• Substantiated responses are provided based on acquired knowledge.
• Responsible advice is given for appropriate action.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level outcome 4

• Legislation and Regulations are read, interpreted and evaluated within different taxation frameworks.
• Views expressed in the Legislation and Regulations are evaluated and debated to reach own conclusions.
• Legislation and Regulations are used to support arguments and solutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level outcome 5

• Taxation opinion documents are read and interpreted.
• Own taxation opinions are drafted by applying theories and reflection.
• Individuals and businesses are advised on taxation issues to resolve problems.
• Parties are represented in legal taxation proceedings.
• Use technology to process taxation related issues.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level outcome 6

• Ethics and the code of conduct applicable to the field of taxation are explained in terms of the taxation environment.
• Ethics and code of conduct are applied to all taxation issues.

> Range: Taxation issues may include but are not limited to advice, actions, practices, proceedings, problems, guidance, counsel, opinions and transactions.

• Tax compliance is motivated and guidance given according to professional standards.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment: Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes assignments based on the learning material and learners are given feedback. An option to create online discussion forums and to divide the learners in groups to work together on a project exists. The process is continuous and focuses on different sections of the work.

Summative Assessment: Examinations or equivalent assessment such as a project of a representative selection of outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the learner's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module. In multi-disciplinary fields such as Tax, summative assessment focuses on the integration of skills and knowledge in the Taxation discipline.

Integrated Assessment: All assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence. In this way a programme can ensure that its exit level outcomes are achieved.