Taxation (TAXX) 304
Introduction to U.S. Tax (Revision 12)
Revision 12 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version
View previous syllabus
Delivery Mode: Individualized study online (with eTextbook)
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
(Business and Administrative Studies)
Prerequisite: ACCT 253 and ECON 247
Precluded Course: TAXX 302
Centre: Faculty of Business
TAXX 304 is not available for challenge.
Overview
The first part of this course focuses on individual taxation, including the calculation of adjusted gross income, taxable income, and tax liability. Next, property transactions, capital gains, and like-kind exchanges are examined. Finally, the taxation of corporations and flow-through entities is addressed.
This course has been approved by the Foreign Academic Credentials Service (FACS) in the United States as fulfilling the introductory tax requirement of the states it covers that require a U.S. tax course as a prerequisite for the CPA examinations. Note that different CPA state boards in the United States have different requirements and not all states require a U.S. tax course. This course is also suitable for helping CPA examination candidates prepare for the taxation portion of the CPA examinations or the CPA IQEX examination.
Outline
The course consists of the following ten lessons:
- Lesson 1: An Introduction to Taxation
- Lesson 2: Government Tax Structure and Tax Policy
- Lesson 3: Determination of Tax
- Lesson 4: Income, Exclusions, and Capital Gains
- Lesson 5: Deductions, Losses, and Bad Debts
- Lesson 6: Employee Expenses, Deferred Compensation, Depreciation, and Tax Accounting Methods
- Lesson 7: Property Transactions
- Lesson 8: Corporate Taxation
- Lesson 9: Pass-Through Entities
- Lesson 10: Tax Compliance and Tax Planning
Evaluation
Your final grade in this course will be based on two written assignments, a case study, and a final examination.
To receive credit for TAXX 304, you must achieve an overall course grade of at least “D” (50 percent). In addition, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the final examination. If your grade on the final examination is below 50%, you will not receive credit for this course, even if your overall course grade exceeds 50%.
The following table summarizes the weights that will be applied to each assignment and the final examination in determining your final grade:
| Assign. 1 | Assign. 2 | Case Study | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 20% | 10% | 50% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbook
Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.
Rupert, T.J., Pope, T.R., & Andersen, K.E., (2014). Prentice Hall's Federal Taxation 2014 Comprehensive. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. ISBN: 978-0-13-345011-8
A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 12, September 19, 2013.
View previous syllabus