Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module ECOS2181: PRINCIPLES OF TAXATION

Department: Business School (Economics and Finance) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

ECOS2181: PRINCIPLES OF TAXATION

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2011/12 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to BSc Accounting

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To enable students to understand the general objectives of tax and to calculate income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, corporation tax and VAT in straightforward scenarios.

Content

  • Objectives and types of tax
  • Ethics and administration
  • Income tax and national insurance contributions
  • Capital gains tax and corporation tax on chargeable gains
  • Corporation tax
  • VAT

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • explain the general objectives of tax, the influences upon the UK system of tax and the different types of tax in the UK
  • recognise the ethical issues arising in the course of performing tax work and identify the obligations the UK system of tax imposes on taxpayers and the implications for taxpayers of non-compliance
Subject-specific Skills:
  • calculate the amounts of income tax owed by or owed to individuals and the amounts of national insurance payable
  • calculate the capital gains tax payable by individuals and the chargeable gains subject to corporation tax
  • calculate the corporation tax liabilities of companies
  • calculate the amount of VAT owed by or owed to businesses.
Key Skills:
  • have acquired appropriate skills for the synthesis of data
  • have developed problem solving and analytical skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning will be based on knowledge transfer from lectures, seminars and personal study. Investigation of cases and real world organizations, in seminars, will encourage students to develop awareness of cultural differences and apply this to the development of their skills in managing themselves and others in such contexts.
  • Seminar activities and discussions will consolidate understanding of the technical material covered in the module.
  • The formative assessment will require students to demonstrate understanding of relevant concepts and technical treatments, thus preparing them for the summative assessment.
  • The summative assignment will require students to undertake a critical review of different ethical behaviours to meet tax obligations.
  • The examination will test students’ understanding of the concepts, and ability to apply the technical treatments, covered in the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 4 per week 2 hours 20
Seminars 4 Weekly 2 hours 8
Cases discussions 1 Annual 2 hours 2
Preparation and Reading 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual assignment based on a critical review 2500 words 100%
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes 100%

Formative Assessment:

On line assessment via DUO.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University