Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)

Module ACCT3041: Tax Planning for Business

Department: Accounting

ACCT3041: Tax Planning for Business

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 3 20 Not available in 2025/2026 None. Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • ACCT2021 Introduction to Taxation OR ACCT2091 Taxation

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • None

Aims

  • To enable students to apply technical knowledge and professional skills to identify and resolve tax problems 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
  • On the successful completion of this module, students will:
  • Have acquired the necessary technical knowledge and professional judgement to identify, explain and evaluate alternative tax treatments and solve tax planning problems
  • Have a thorough understanding of the ethical and legal implications of taxation planning strategies
  • Have knowledge of and be able to solve problems using the technical rules surrounding the taxation of corporate entities, unincorporated businesses including partnerships, and individuals
  • Have an appreciation of the interaction of taxes in given scenarios
Subject-specific Skills
  • By the end of the module, students should be able to:
  • determine the appropriate solutions to taxation issues, giving due consideration to the needs of clients and the interaction between taxes
  • consider the commercial context and impact of recommendations in making such judgements, as well as ethical and legal issues
  • 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.
  • advise on alternative tax treatments to defer or minimise tax liabilities
  • identify and discriminate between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning
Key Skills
  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • Communication and reporting skills: The ability to communicate effectively: communicating complex ideas orally and in writing
  • The ability to think critically and creatively and to argue coherently

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

  • The module will be delivered through workshops which will deliver core knowledge and explain theories and models, supported by independent study.
  • Formative assessment will consist of case study questions.
  • Summative assessment will consist of a written assignment and a timed invigilated examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Workshops 20 2 per week 2 hours 40 Yes
Preparation, Reading and Independent Study 160
Total 200

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Assignment 30% Individual written assignment 2500 words max 100%
Examination 70% In-person Written Examination 2.5 hours 100%

Formative Assessment

Case study questions


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.