Master of Taxation Courses
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| The MTAX program is a ten course, 30 credit-hour program spanning one academic year. It is a full-time, day time program which begins in August only. Students graduate the following May. The following is a select list of courses in the MTAX program. Courses are subject to change and the specific program of 10 courses will be determined by the School as appropriate for each of the degree programs.
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| Multi Jurisdictional Tax 2 | This course addresses the US taxation of US individuals and businesses that do business outside of the US as well as the US taxation of foreign persons and businesses that do business in the US. Topics covered include jurisdiction to tax, tax treaties, allocation of income, foreign tax credits and transfer pricing. Planning is emphasized related to some of the tax issues that commonly arise in cross border businesses. |
| Family Tax Planning and Wealth Transfer Taxation | This course is divided into three parts: estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes; family wealth and income tax planning (e.g., asset protection, succession planning for business owners, family limited partnerships, charitable remainder trusts); and estate and trust income taxation. Tax return preparation and tax analysis is emphasized.
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| Multi Jurisdictional Tax 1 | This course provides an introduction to the principles of multi-state taxation and an understanding of the interplay between multi-state tax issues and federal and state constitutional limitations. While the course will provide an overview of all major state and local taxes, including income tax, sales tax, property tax, employment taxes and the Arizona state tax system, the emphasis will be on state income taxation. In addition, the student will be introduced to the fundamentals of state tax planning for business entities.
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| Tax Research and Property Transactions | The first three weeks of this course are devoted to tax research principles and the last seven weeks cover property transactions, all the way from the basics of gain or loss realized to advanced topics such as like-kind exchanges, installment sales and exclusion on home sales. This last portion will also include two tax research projects related to property transactions that will test your newly acquired tax research skills from the first portion of the course.
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| Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders | This course is designed to make you familiar with the tax consequences, to both corporations and their shareholders, of the life cycle of a corporation. Areas covered include tax planning related to choice of entity, corporate formations, operations, distributions and liquidations, as well as corporate acquisitions and reorganizations. A comprehensive case study is utilized to bring together many of the issues covered.
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| Taxation of Pass-Through Entities | This course is divided into two parts: partnership (LLC) taxation and S corporation taxation. The tax aspects of each of these entities are examined with regard to formation, operation, allocation of income among owners, distributions, and liquidation. Partnerships and S corporations are compared and contrasted in terms of advantages and disadvantages of each. Tax planning is emphasized. [back to top] |
| Special Topics | This course covers topics that are not covered in depth in other courses but are important in your career. Some of the topics are technical in nature related to tax, accounting or information systems. Others address business (and life) skills that everyone needs, such as negotiation skills. The classes are taught by the faculty and by guest lecturers with specific expertise in the topics being presented.
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| Taxes & Business Strategy | This course is designed to make you appreciate the pervasive role of taxes in business decision-making. The course integrates knowledge of the tax laws with the fundamentals of corporate finance and microeconomics. Through this integration, the course provides a framework for understanding how taxes affect decision-making, asset prices, and the financial and operational structure of firms. In addition, the course will integrate tax with financial accounting by emphasizing the differences and trade-offs between the taxation and financial reporting of a transaction. In contrast with the technical tax courses, the focus of this course will be on the economic consequences of alternative contracting arrangements rather than on the myriad details of the tax laws. To be sure, you will be exposed to some of the intricacies of the tax laws, but that is not the central mission of the course.
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| Shareholder Value Creation & Financial Statement Analysis | This course examines the role of financial statements and non-financial indicators in providing valuation information useful to managers and financial markets. Modules explore the competitive positioning of companies within industries and strategies used to optimize competitive position, the interrelation of competitive strategy and financial statements, and procedures used by analysts in valuing companies.
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| Performance Measurements and Advanced Managerial Accounting | This course provides a framework that addresses issues related to performance measurement in organizations. Discussions focus on the significance of proper linkages and fit among the organization’s strategic goals, its management control system (MCS) and the function of performance measurement. A theoretical and conceptual framework on incentive/compensation, human resource management and management control will be offered during the first module of the class. The course will close with discussions on the system aspect and implications of designing an enterprise-wide integrated performance measurement.
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