COMLAW 301 : Taxation

Business and Economics

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the Income Tax Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act, with emphasis on developing an understanding of these types of tax as relevant to taxpayers. Specific topics include the nature of income, taxation of common types of income (such as wages, shares and land), the deduction and prohibition of various types of expenses, tax accounting issues (cash or accrual basis), provisional tax, rebates, PAYE system, tax returns and an introduction to GST.

Course Overview

Taxation is an important part of government in New Zealand. In the absence of a fair and equitable system of taxation we cannot function as a democratic society. The revenue raised through taxation funds important infrastructure such as health and education. It also provides the foundation for the redistribution of wealth to seek to provide for those less fortunate.
Taxation is also an important part of the business world. Without a knowledge of taxation law those seeking to conduct business in New Zealand will falter. Given its importance, the study of taxation law is compulsory for membership of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and CPA Australia. This course has been specifically designed to conform to the taxation competence requirements of both CAANZ and CPA Australia . The course is also designed for those students intending to advance to the stage 3 taxation paper COMLAW 311 (for which it is a prerequisite).
By the end of the course, students will have a strong foundation in the disciplinary knowledge and practice required to practice in the field of taxation or more generally in accounting and related fields. In particular, students will acquire problem recognition and problem identification skills necessary in the modern business environment as well as for the more advanced commercial law papers.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMLAW 201 or 203

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Evaluate the role of taxation in New Zealand society and identify and apply the core values a good tax must seek to achieve (Capability 2 and 6)
  2. Evaluate and apply Apply the core provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007 and principal provisions of the Tax Administration Act 1994 in the calculation and satisfaction of income tax liabilities and obligations (Capability 1, 3 and 4.2)
  3. Explain and apply the fundamental distinction, including specific statutory exceptions, between capital and income/revenue in New Zealand. (Capability 1 and 2)
  4. Identify the key criteria for determining if activities constitute a business and explain the consequential tax implications. (Capability 1 and 4.2)
  5. Outline the legal principles that distinguish employees and independent contractors and explain the taxation consequences of such a classification relative to different types of receipts (Capability 1 and 3)
  6. Explain and apply the principles that determine the deductibility of an expense (Capability 1, 3 and 5.1)
  7. Articulate the tax treatment of supplies under the GST registration (Capability 1 and 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tutorials 5% Individual Coursework
Test 15% Individual Test
Assignments 25% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Quizzes 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Tutorials
Test
Assignments
Final Exam
Quizzes

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week.

Learning Resources

New Zealand Taxation 2020: Principles, Cases and Questions (Thomson Reuters, 2020) 
Plus: New Zealand Tax Legislation for Students or any Student Tax Legislation for 2020

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 26/06/2020 11:15 a.m.