Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2020-2021 (archived)

Module ECOS2221: BUSINESS PLANNING: TAXATION

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

ECOS2221: BUSINESS PLANNING: TAXATION

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2020/21 Module Cap Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N400

Prerequisites

  • Principles of Taxation

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To enable students to apply technical knowledge and professional skills to identify and resolve tax issues that arise in the context of preparing tax computations and to advise on tax-efficient strategies for businesses and individuals.

Content

  • Ethics and law
  • Taxation of corporate entities
  • Taxation of unincorporated businesses including partnerships
  • Personal taxation

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Have acquired the necessary technical knowledge and professional judgement to identify, explain and evaluate alternative tax treatments
  • Have an awareness of the ethical and legal implications of taxation
  • Have knowledge of the taxation of corporate entities, unincorporated businesses including partnerships, and individuals
  • Have an understanding of the interaction of taxes in given scenarios
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Be able to determine the appropriate solutions to taxation issues, giving due consideration to the needs of clients and the interaction between taxes.
  • Be able to consider the commercial context and impact of recommendations in making such judgements, as well as ethical and legal issues.
  • Be able to analyse, evaluate and calculate the tax consequences of actions for individuals and companies and evaluate the interaction of taxes in given scenarios. This will involve advising and assisting clients in adhering to tax regulations.
  • Be able to advise on alternative tax treatments to defer or minimise tax liabilities.
  • Be able to identify and discriminate between tax evasion and tax avoidance.
Key Skills:
  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • Communication and reporting skills
  • Consultation and advisory 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 taught classes and independent study; investigation of cases and real world organisations will encourage students to develop awareness of cultural differences and apply these to the development of their skills in managing themselves and others in such contexts.
  • Classroom activities and independent study will help students acquire technical awareness of topics in a comprehensive form.
  • The examination will test students’ understanding of the main concepts and technical treatments through problem solving and reflection on learning.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Classes (Note: this module is delivered by an approved external provider. A range of learning and teaching methods will be used as appropriate to the subject-matter and learning outcomes.) 70 hours in total
Independent study, including preparation for summative and formative assessment 130 hours
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination (open book) 2 hours 30 minutes 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Online tests


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