MTax academics
The nine-month Master of Taxation and Data Analytics (MTax) program from ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business deepens and broadens your knowledge of taxation and opens doors to top hiring firms.
Through a strong focus on data and analytics, real-world case studies, and collaborative projects, you'll build the skills needed to thrive in today’s complex tax environment. Explore the classes you’ll take and ensure you meet the prerequisites before you apply — we welcome students from both accounting and non-accounting backgrounds.
"It’s unique to be able to pursue a specialized taxation degree. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from such accomplished and successful tax professionals. The faculty are willing to share their time, expertise, and advice."
Mari Funabashi , MTax graduate
Curriculum
While some business schools allow you to add a tax emphasis to your accounting master’s degree, few offer a dedicated master’s in taxation — much less a built-in data analytics emphasis. The W. P. Carey MTax allows you to explore taxation in greater depth, while advancing your technology skills and preparing you for a variety of exciting careers. The program requires 30 total credit hours to complete.
Individualized attention and development are hallmarks of the program experience, which offers small class sizes, mentorship opportunities with alumni, and a supportive community of students preparing for the CPA exam while completing their degree.
Sample MTax courses
Tax professionals with data analytics capabilities are better positioned for leadership roles, innovation initiatives, and client-facing advisory work. Understanding both the logic of the tax code and the language of data makes you more valuable to employers and more adaptable to future changes in the profession.
The first course in this series examines analytics in the accounting function. Calculate, interpret, and apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics in a variety of case settings focusing on auditing, risk management, forensics, and strategic planning decisions and events.
The second course addresses the emerging roles of accounting analytics in accounting, auditing and tax contexts. Technological advances have allowed the capture and economic storage of massive accounting and business data and the focus of this class is how to productively gather and apply big data to a variety of accounting, auditing and tax-related contexts. Focuses on understanding the data within major accounting information systems and generating meaningful audit and/or tax analytics from the data. Critical to this is a deep understanding of accounting flows, processes and controls in order to understand and build meaningful audit-centric and/or tax-centric analytics.
Master common situations in federal corporate taxation, including shareholder taxation. Explore the tax ramifications of corporate formations, operations, distributions to shareholders, liquidations, acquisitions, and reorganizations.
Examine the tax consequences of common types of property transactions and enhance your ability to identify tax issues, locate and understand tax authority, and apply the authority to factual situations.
Prerequisites
A foundational knowledge of accounting is critical to your success in the MTax program therefore students must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in accounting from an accredited institution or completed either the Pathway Program or Bootcamp.
Applying as a non-accountancy student
The School of Accountancy within W. P. Carey offers two options for students without an accounting background to gain the foundational knowledge needed for success. The MACC/MTax Bootcamp is a fast, fully online credential that fulfills prerequisite requirements in a single semester. The Pathway Program provides for-credit undergraduate coursework offered in person or online. Explore your options through the School of Accountancy.
CPA test prep
Thanks to a W. P. Carey partnership with industry leader Becker CPA Review, you can access a suite of CPA exam prep materials at a discounted cost. This means that eligible students can prepare for and pass the CPA exam while still enrolled in the master’s program, making you a more competitive applicant for opportunities in the short term and providing you a great foundation for the rest of your career.
Learn more about CPA test prep from Becker CPA ReviewFaculty
Accredited by the AACSB since 1987, the School of Accountancy within W. P. Carey is home to nationally recognized faculty who specialize in both the technical and practical aspects of taxation. With backgrounds ranging from tax law and corporate tax planning to data analytics and policy research, MTax faculty are not only subject matter experts — they’re mentors and industry connectors who help students navigate complex tax concepts and prepare for successful careers in public accounting, corporate tax, and beyond.