COMLAW 301 : Taxation

Business and Economics

2025 Semester One (1253) (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 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically evaluate the role of taxation in New Zealand society and identify and apply the core values a good tax must seek to achieve. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Evaluate and apply the core provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007, from the perspective of a New Zealand tax resident to the calculation and satisfaction of income tax liabilities and obligations, and compliance under the Tax Administration Act 1994. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6.2)
  3. Explain and apply the fundamental distinction, including specific statutory exceptions, between capital and income/revenue in New Zealand. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6.2)
  4. Identify and apply the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007 to classify sources of income and available deductions. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6.2)
  5. Articulate the tax treatment of supplies and acquisitions under the GST regime. (Capability 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tutorials 5% Individual Coursework
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Test 25% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Tutorials
Assignments
Test
Final Exam

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.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete/receive credit for components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events.

Attendance on campus is required for the exam.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.


Learning 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.

New Zealand Taxation 2025: Principles, Cases and Questions (Thomson Reuters, 2025) 
Plus: New Zealand Tax Legislation for Students or any Student Tax Legislation for 2025

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.

We have modified the assessment structure.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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 12/11/2024 09:05 p.m.