A&M TEXAS UNNIVERSITY CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE OF BUSINESS COURSE SYLLABUS SPRING 2009 Course Number: Course Name: Instructor: Office Hours: ACCT 5371 Tax Consulting, Planning and Research Dr. Valrie Chambers, FC 258, 361-825-6012; Fax [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Tuesday & Thursday 4-7 PM. Or by appointment, email or WebCT
Required Materials: Contemporary Tax Practice: Research Planning and Strategies ISBN: 9780808018650 Prerequisites: Accounting foundation courses or their equivalent.
Course Description: This course is an advanced study of federal tax law to identify tax-saving opportunities for businesses and individuals. Emphasis on sound tax planning and research techniques is applied to case studies. Relationship to Other Coursework: This course is appropriate for MBA students, students in the profession, and MAcc students. Subjects overlap with financial and managerial accounting, finance, business strategy and communications. Instructional Methodology: Instructional methods include lectures, class discussions and applications, case studies, preparation of client letters, valuations, and the conduct of electronic tax research and policy analysis. The goal of these methods is to guide the student to a technical understanding of tax research and the development of professional judgment in tax matters, including recognition and consideration of the importance of non-tax factors in decision-making. Performance Evaluation and Grading: Student performance will be evaluated based on Tax Consulting, Planning & Research Projects Independent accounting judgment Total
90% 10% 100%
Course grades will be assigned on the following scale: A-90% or above, B-80-89%, C-70-79%, D-60-69%, F-59% and below.
Oral and Written Content: Students are expected to read assigned material prior to class and to contribute to class discussions. Students will address the appropriate form and content of client letters and develop agility in communicating complex tax issues in clear and common language. Students will make professional presentation in the form of client letters, workpapers, and oral presentations. Technology Applications: Students will use electronic research applications during the course. In addition, students should be comfortable with producing quality word-processed letters and memoranda with at least one spreadsheet application. Students will use one of the two most widely adopted research tools in their Internet version, the full-featured versions of RIA's and CCH's Internet-based tax research libraries. These libraries include the Internal Revenue Code and Code history, Treasury Regulations, selected Committee Reports, federal court cases and Tax Treaties. Lexis-Nexis is also available and its use is strongly encouraged. The libraries also include the publishers' tax services with explanations and annotations. Students will have the opportunity to develop tax research skills using these widely adopted professional tools. Most of these tools are available for student use at the library, through the Business Computer Lab, or via their own Internet service from an off campus location. All students should have a student computer account and access to e-mail. Students may be required to submit certain assignments via e-mail and e-mail attachments. Global Perspectives: International issues are addressed in a broad way, through an overview of comparative ways of determining income and of collecting tax in the tax systems employed in other major industrial nations. Generally, at least one assignment has international elements. Ethical Perspectives: The integrity of our financial and tax systems depends, in part, on the integrity and principled behavior of those who advise clients and report information. This tax course addresses these issues through discussion of Circular 230, which outlines the expectations of governmental authorities with respect to tax preparers, through mention of certain taxpayer and preparer penalties under the law, and through review of the more common issues encountered and addressed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statements of Responsibilities in Tax Practice. Demographic Diversity Perspectives: An example of a demographic in issue tax law is the "marriage penalty" that imposes higher taxes on two individuals that file as one married couple than would be imposed if the two individuals had never married and filed as single individuals. Such issues extend throughout the study of individual taxation and raise interesting policy and design questions. Some of these questions are raised and may be addressed by students in the context of case discussions and sample return projects. Class discussion of proposals for reforming the U.S. tax system also raise interesting questions about who should bear the burden of taxation and of what and who should be, or should not be, taxed.
Political, Social, Legal, Regulatory, and Environmental Perspectives: Throughout the history of the United States, tax laws have been used to encourage or to discourage certain types of activities or investments. In addition, taxes may ultimately not be born by those on whom the tax is imposed, but may be passed along to others. Case studies and other sources of class discussion address the social, political, and regulatory agendas advanced by various aspects of the tax law. Academic Honesty: This course, and all other courses offered by the College of Business (COB), requires all of its students to abide by the COB Student Code of Ethics (available online at www.cob.tamucc.edu). Provisions and stipulations in the code are applicable to all students taking COB courses regardless of whether or not they are pursuing a degree awarded by the COB. University students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. (Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one's own work.) American with Disabilities Act Compliance: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Office at [phone] or visit the office in Driftwood 101. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify, describe, and apply sources of legal and ethical standa...