Location:               Ligertwood Building North Terrace

                        Telephone:         8313 8250    

                        email:        john.tretola@adelaide.edu.au

                        Course Website:            www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au

2 hours of lectures per week. Thursdays 10.10-12.00pm, Physics 103, Kerr Grant Lecture Theatre.

1 hour of tutorials per week.



The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from the Course Planner at http://access.adelaide.edu.au/courses/search.asp?year=2016

To provide a more detailed explanation of the tax laws that relate specifically to business structures in Australia.

 

Knowledge and Understanding

This course is designed to encourage students to:

1. Build upon the principles of income tax law as covered in an introductory income tax law subject, such as the undergraduate subject, Income Tax Law III, and a sound understanding of the material covered in that subject is assumed.
2. Gain a more advanced understanding of the fundamental principles of income tax law with a particular focus on the different types of business entities, such as companies, trusts and partnerships and sole proprietors.
3. Evaluate and synthesise information and existing knowledge from a number of sources.
4. Identify legal issues and apply the law to arrive at reasoned solutions to legal problems.
5. Communicate ideas effectively in informal group discussions
6. The course will focus on topical taxation issues affecting businesses in Australia.
7. The course will aim to provide opportunities for the practical implementation of the main concepts covered.
8. The course is also designed to allow students to appreciate the importance of lifelong learning in the ever-changing field of taxation law.

The Light Blue covered Course Handbook is required (it is free of charge).

Foundations of Taxation Law 7th Edition (2015) Stephen Barkoczy (CCH).

Core 2015 Income Tax Legislation

Australian Master Tax Guide 2015 (CCH)

Australian Tax Handbook 2015 (Thomsons)

Week Lecture Topic                                           Tutorial Topic

1        Introduction to Business Taxes                   -

2        Introduction to Business Taxes                   -

3        FBT                                                          Introduction Topic

4        Super                                                       -

5        State Taxes                                               FBT/Super*

6        CGT Special issues                                     State Taxes

7        CGT Special issues                                     -

8        International Taxes                                    CGT Special Issues

Mid-semester break

________________________________________________________
9       GST                                                           International Taxes

10     GST                                                           - 

11     Tax Entity issues                                         GST

12     Tax Agent Services Act and Tax Avoidance    Tax Entity issues

13     No lecture                                                   Tax Agent Services & Tax Avoidance

*The FBT/Super Tutorial Paper will be assessed

The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course or 13 hours for a four-unit course, of private study outside of your regular classes.



Students in this course are expected to attend all lectures throughout the semester plus one tutorial class each week (when these are held).

Week Topics Tutorial Topic

1 Introduction to Business Taxes -

2 Introduction to Business Taxes -

3 International Tax Issues Introduction

4 CGT Special Issues International Taxes

5 CGT Special Issues -

6 State Taxes CGT Special issues

Mid semester break

7 Tax Entity Issues State Taxes

8 FBT Tax Entity Issues

9 Class Test/Superannuation -

10 GST FBT/Super

11 GST -

12 Tax Agent Services Act and Tax Avoidance GST

13 No lecture Tax Agent Services & Tax Avoidance

*The FBT Tutorial Paper will be assessed

Assessment Type	Weighting
Tutorial Paper	13%
Assignment/Essay	27%
Final Exam	60%

 


The tutorial paper, assignment and final exam all seek to assess each student in terms of the four course objectives specified above.

All assessment is compulsory and non-redeemable.

The assessment components are as follows:

Tutorial Paper - FBT/Super (Due by 4pm Tuesday 29th March 2016) 13%

Students must submit their tutorial paper electronically through Turnitin.

Students are also expected to discuss their tutuorial paper in the tutorial.


Assignment 27%

An assignment will be due to be lodged online by 4pm on Monday May 23rd 2016 and will cover the topics of Introduction to Business Tax issues; CGT Special issues; State Taxes; FBT/Super and GST.

Date and time: Monday May 23rd 2016 4pm to be lodged online through Turnitin.



Final Exam 60%

There will be a 3hour exam with 10 minutes reading time held during the June/July examination period. It will cover all the Topics of the course and all lecture and tutorial material is examinable.

The exam will be a partially open book exam. Students can ONLY bring into the exam 4 single sided pages or 2 double sided A4 sized sheets of paper containing either handwritten or printed notes. These notes can be in a foreign language but must be left with the exam paper. No other materials can be brought in and used in the exam.

Presentation of assignments
· Please attach an ‘Assignment Cover Sheet’, which is signed and dated by you before submission.
· All group assignments must be attached to a ‘Group Assignment Cover Sheet’, which must be signed and dated by all group members before submission. All team members are expected to contribute approximately equally to a group assignment.

Lecturers can refuse to accept assignments, which do not have a signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism.

Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.

Submission
All assignments must be submitted electronically via Turnitin. This means that all papers will be electronically checked for plagiarism.

Late Assignment Submission
Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain a fair and equitable system. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits.
5% of the total mark possible will be deducted for every 24 hours or part thereof that it is late, including each day on a weekend. For example, an essay that is submitted after the due date and time but within the first 24 hour period, and that has been graded at 63%, will have 5% deducted, for a final grade of 58%. An essay that is more than 24 hours late will lose 10%, etc. Hard copy submissions made after 5.00pm on a Friday will be assumed to have been submitted on the next business day and will be penalised accordingly.


Please note: For fairness and equity, the maximum extension granted will be the day before the first tutorial covering the content of the assignment that is the subject of the assessment.

Word Length: Assignments which exceed the allocated length (word length or page limit) will be subject to a penalty of 5% of total marks possible per 100 words or part thereof at the discretion of the marker. Quotations and all referencing information are included in the word count.

Occupational Health and Safety Arrangements

The School is committed to upholding the University’s Policy on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). All staff and students have a legal responsibility to act in the interests of themselves and others with respect to OH&S. To assist us, and to comply with your responsibilities, you are required to become informed about emergency evacuation procedures and the evacuation areas for the classes you attend.

Evacuation Procedures

Staff and students must leave the building via the fire stairs once the notice to evacuate has been given. The lifts should not be used. Those experiencing difficulties leaving the building should notify the floor warden. Staff and students may return to the building only after the Warden has granted permission.

Medical Emergencies & First Aid In a life threatening situation only please telephone 8313 5444. 

 Representatives and Officers

First Aid officers are trained to deal with first aid situations. School Safety Officers represent the Head of School in OH&S matters. The elected OH&S Representative can represent staff and students in OH&S issues.

Accident and Incident Reporting

OH&S legislation demands that all accidents and near-miss incidents be reported to the School Manager or Head of School. In the event of an accident or incident the person involved, and their supervisor, must complete an Accident/Incident Report and Investigation Form, within 48 hours of the accident/incident. A copy of the completed form is to be forwarded to the OH&S Safety Officer. Copies of the form are available from the OH&S Representative or Safety Officer.


The University Writing Centre provides academic learning and language development services and resources for local, international, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students enrolled at the University of Adelaide.

Practical advice and strategies for students to master reading, writing, note-taking, time management, oral presentation skills, referencing techniques and exam preparation for success at university through seminars, workshops and individual consultations.

For more information please check out the Writing Centre website at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/  

Lex Salus Program

Lex Salus was founded in 2013 by Adelaide Law School Wellbeing officers Ms Corinne Walding, Ms Kellie Toole and Dr Mark Giancaspro. Lex Salus is an initiative of the Adelaide Law School aimed at raising law student awareness of the importance of mental, physical and nutritional health across all year levels of the degree, and of the various counselling, disability and equity services both within and outside the University that can provide help. Research shows that law students, both in Australia and in many jurisdictions around the world, experience the highest levels of stress, anxiety and depression out of any other discipline. Many do not get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet or achieve a realistic work/life balance. Making matters worse, they are unwilling or afraid to speak up for fear of feeling 'weak' or because of the negative stigma that attaches to seeking help. Lex Salus is dedicated to tackling these problems head-on.

Counselling Service

The University Counselling Service provides a free and confidential service to all enrolled students. We encourage you to contact the Counselling service on 8313 5663 to make an appointment to deal with any issues that may be affecting your study and life. More information is available at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/counselling_centre/.  

Plagiarism and other forms of cheating

Plagiarism is a serious act of academic misconduct. All students must be familiar with the Adelaide Law School Enrolment Guide, and should note in particular the sections relating to plagiarism, grievance procedures and academic conduct within the Law School and the University.

Plagiarism is a serious matter and is treated as such by the Law School and the University. Please be aware that “academic dishonesty” (which goes beyond plagiarism) can be a ground for a refusal by the Supreme Court of South Australia to refuse to admit a person to practice as a legal practitioner in South Australia.

Academic honesty is an essential aspect of ethical and honest behaviour, which is central to the practice of the law and an understanding of what it is to be a lawyer.