Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Taxation

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to develop intellectual and practical skills in the analysis, interpretation and application of advanced accounting, governance and control and taxation. This qualification will prepare students to identify and solve advanced accounting, governance and control and taxation in practice. Lastly, this qualification will prepare students for further studies in accounting, governance and control and taxation as a science.

Rationale

The qualification aims to provide students with current thinking, principles and knowledge on taxation, thereby ensuring that they are prepared for the challenges of working at an advanced level in financial management sector with specific emphasis on taxation.

It is the intention to produce analytical and research orientated practitioners for the workplace. The curriculum is designed with a strong research focus enabling students to apply acquired research knowledge and skills to their respective departments or organisations.

The qualification is designed for people in the following fields

• Junior tax consultants handling tax compliance work.
• Legal officers dealing with tax compliance issues.

The qualifying leaners would be ideal for employment by the South African Revenue Services. Commercial organisations requiring accountants with expertise in taxation would find the combination of a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Taxation) Honours Degree most effective.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the Faculty of Humanities will endeavour to assess prior learning and award credit where relevant.

RPL is managed according to the University of Johannesburg's RPL policy, which will be applied as follows for purposes of this programme as set out in the Faculty of Humanities policy:

• Through RPL a student may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that he/she continues his/her studies at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
• Recognition takes place in terms of requirements and procedures applied by the Faculty of Humanities.
• RPL in the case of a student not complying with the formal entry requirements.
• Is conducted after payment of the prescribed fees in accordance with the policy and guidelines of the University.
• Is based on other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience.
• Is considered only where prior learning corresponds to the required National Qualifications Framework (NQF)-level.
• Takes place where prior learning in terms of applied competencies is relevant to the content and outcomes of the programme.
• Is considered in terms of an assessment procedure that includes a motivated recommendation by an assessment panel to the Dean's Committee of the College of Business and Economics (CBE).
• Is finally decided upon by the CBE Dean's Committee.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement into this qualification is

• Bachelor of Commerce in the related field, Level 7.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Accounting 4, 30 Credits.
• Applied Research: Taxation, 30 Credits.
• Global Taxation Principles, 30 Credits.
• South African Taxation 4, 30 Credits.

1. Advanced understanding of the more complex tax issues and write opinions on tax problems.
2. Solve practical tax problems and calculate the normal tax liability.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the research process.
4. Produce a well-structured research report is written.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Court decisions are read and interpreted.
• A tax problem is identified and a solution found.
• Lucid arguments related to tax problems are structured.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• An integrated approach and with reference to the income tax legislation, relevant court decisions, regulations and interpretation notes are used to calculate normal tax liability of:

> Individual tax payers.

> Corporate tax payers.

> Trusts and estates.

> Other tax entities.

• The provisions relating to donations tax are understood and applied in calculating the donations tax liability of natural persons and persons other than natural persons.
• The principles relating to capital gains taxation are understood and applied to calculate the capital gains to be included in the taxable income of the various classes of taxpayers.
• The tax principles governing pre-payments of normal tax, including Standard Income Tax on Employees (SITE), Pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) and provisional tax are understood and applied.
• The various withholding taxes provided for in the Income Tax Act, including the withholding of tax on royalty payments to non-residents, on the sale to non-residents of fixed property that is situated in South Africa and on the earnings of visiting sports persons and entertainers are understood and applied.
• The value added tax legislation, related case decisions, regulations, interpretation notes and principles are understood and applied in calculating the value added tax liability or refund due to a vendor.
• The Estate Duty Act and its principles are understood and applied to calculate the estate duty liability of a deceased person.
• Basic tax planning advice is given based on an understanding of the impact of anti-tax avoidance measures on various types of transactions or schemes.
• The administrative provisions in all of the legislation impacting on taxation is understood.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• A basic literature survey and review is carried out.
• A research project is designed.
• A research proposal is written.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• An appropriate referencing technique is used and a bibliography in the required format is produced.
• An academic writing style is used with clearly structured arguments.
• An abstract is written in the required form.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment across the qualification forms an integral part of the teaching and learning process for this programme. In achieving the learning outcomes, students are required to comply with the minimum assessments set for the level of the qualification, as per the Institution's Assessment Policy. Assessments vary depending on the module and the outcomes of the module, however all modules are formatively and summatively assessed. The assessment of theoretical modules is usually in the form of assignments, practicals and written tests or examinations. The weighting of the different assessments toward the calculation of the final mark is clearly indicated to students in the learning guide for each module.

Integrated Assessments/case studies also take place through a variety of assignments, for example, those completed in industry or those that assess aggregated knowledge acquired (such as in a capstone module).

Formative and Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment opportunities are not formally recorded and take the form of class tests, question and answer sessions and monitoring of practical work.

Summative Assessment leads to the final judgmental mark in accordance to the institution's Assessment Policy. The assessments for theoretical modules will be in the form of assignments and written tests or practical examinations.