CORPFIN 6003 - Tax, Estate and Wealth Planning

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017

This course covers tax planning generally and also business tax planning, and estate and wealth planning. The tax planning section focuses on an overview of the Australian tax system and tax planning principles, taxation of employee remuneration, taxation of investment income, taxation of investment structures, and international taxation. As well as providing students with knowledge of fundamental concepts of Australian income tax law and basic tax planning principles, specific strategies for tax planning are covered for each of these topics. The business tax planning section covers tax accounting for business income, income tax issues for business, specific anti-avoidance issues for business, the tax issues on the acquisition of a business and the tax issues on the disposal of a business. The estate planning section deals with the process of planning and implementing the orderly transfer of a person's wealth in the event of their death for the benefit of their intended beneficiaries. This section focuses on what are estate and non-estate assets, estate planning objectives, strategies to achieve objectives, specific strategies for estate planning, taxation issues relating to deceased estates and the estate administration process. The wealth planning section focuses on principles of insurance and insurance as risk management tool in protecting wealth.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CORPFIN 6003
    Course Tax, Estate and Wealth Planning
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Business School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 12 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assumed Knowledge CORPFIN 7005
    Course Description This course covers tax planning generally and also business tax planning, and estate and wealth planning. The tax planning section focuses on an overview of the Australian tax system and tax planning principles, taxation of employee remuneration, taxation of investment income, taxation of investment structures, and international taxation. As well as providing students with knowledge of fundamental concepts of Australian income tax law and basic tax planning principles, specific strategies for tax planning are covered for each of these topics. The business tax planning section covers tax accounting for business income, income tax issues for business, specific anti-avoidance issues for business, the tax issues on the acquisition of a business and the tax issues on the disposal of a business. The estate planning section deals with the process of planning and implementing the orderly transfer of a person's wealth in the event of their death for the benefit of their intended beneficiaries. This section focuses on what are estate and non-estate assets, estate planning objectives, strategies to achieve objectives, specific strategies for estate planning, taxation issues relating to deceased estates and the estate administration process. The wealth planning section focuses on principles of insurance and insurance as risk management tool in protecting wealth.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mr Domenic Carbone

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1. Apply the fundamental concepts of Australian income tax law, tax planning, and estate and wealth planning to make informed financial decisions.
    2. Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to resolve income tax, tax planning, and estate and wealth planning issues.
    3. Communicate effectively orally income tax information and solutions to income tax, tax planning, and estate and wealth planning issues.
    4. Communicate effectively in writing income tax information and solutions to income tax, tax planning, and estate and wealth planning issues.
    5. Demonstrate how to use documentation for estate planning both in a legal and administrative context, and the consequences of non-compliance.
    6. Apply strategies used in estate planning, in the interaction of superannuation with estate planning and in the taxation of deceased estates.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2 & 6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 5 & 6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3 & 4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1 to 6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Required reading will be provided in the course folder and advised to students during the course

    Reference Books
    Australian Financial Planning Handbook 2016-17, Thomson Reuters, Australia
    Australian Master Financial Planning Guide 2016/17, CCH Australia

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Prior to each seminar, students will be expected to have reviewed the topics to be discussed and attempted any set questions/exercises.

    There is a strong assumption that students will engage in seminar discussions in an informed way.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The University expects full-time students (ie 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 12 hours for a three-unit course of private study outside of your regular seminars.

    Students in this course are expected to attend all seminars.
    Learning Activities Summary
    TAX PLANNING
    Topic 1 – Overview of the Australian Tax System & Tax Planning
    Topic 2 – Taxation of Employee Remuneration
    Topic 3 – Taxation of Investment Income
    Topic 4 – Investment & Capital Gains Tax
    Topic 5 – Taxation of Investment Structures
    Topic 6 – International Taxation

    BUSINESS TAX PLANNING
    Topic 1 – Tax Differences between entities and Tax Accounting for Business Income
    Topic 2 – Income Tax Issues for Business
    Topic 3 – Specific Anti-avoidance Issues
    Topic 4 – Business Acquisition Issues
    Topic 5 – Business Disposal Issues

    ESTATE AND WEALTH PLANNING
    Topic 1 – Introduction to Estate Planning
    Topic 2 – Complex Estate Planning
    Topic 3 – Powers of Attorney and Advanced Care Directives
    Topic 4 – Superannuation
    Topic 5 – Taxation Implications of Deceased Estates

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting Learning Outcome
    Exam
    (3 hour open book)
    50% 1-4
    Assignment 25% 1-4
    Online test
    (open book)
    25% 1,2,6
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail
    Students must complete ALL assessment components for this course.

    To gain a pass in the course, a mark of at least 50% overall is required.  There is no requirement that a particular part of the assessment must be passed.

    Due to the intensive nature of this course it is a requirement that students attend at least 80% of the scheduled seminars.  Consideration will be given to medical and compassionate reasons for non attendance, but supporting documentation will need to be presented with these requests.  If at least 80% attendance is not met for each seminar, then students will be be eligible to undertake the assessment for that seminar, ie not sit for the exam and or not submit the assignments.

    Exam
    The exam is of 3 hours duration.  In addition, you are allowed 15 minutes reading time before the examination begins, to read the paper and to make notes.

    The exam is “open book” but you must not bring into the exam room any book belonging to the University of Adelaide Libraries.  “Permitted Materials” in the exam room are the prescribed textbook or any other tax textbook, the legislation, course materials and handouts, your own lecture and other notes written and prepared by you, and not prepared by or taken from someone else.  You may also bring into the exam room an English or English/foreign language dictionary (paper only), and calculator incapable of sending text.

    Examinations will be held only at the time and locations stated in the University’s Examination Timetable, so may not be taken in another
    country.  Students should not make any arrangements to be absent until after the replacement/additional (sup) exam period.

    Assignment
    This will consist of 9 problem type questions.  The assessment criteria include the extent to which the student identigies relevant legal issues and the application of these legal issues to a given set of facts, and whether the student demonstrates sound reasoning in support of their conclusions.  Research skills will also be assessed as to the level in which each student demonstrates further research into relevant topics of the course along with communciation skills as to whether the answers are clearly set out and easy to read and understand.

    Online Test
    The Online Test comprises 25 multiple choice questions and students must answer all 25 questions.  The Online Test must be completed in no more than 75 minutes from starting to answer the questions and in a single sitting.


    Submission

    Presentation of Assignments

    • Please retain a copy of all assignments submitted
    • Please attach an Assignment Cover Sheet, which is siged and dated by you before submission
    Lecturers can refuse to accept assignment, which do not have a signed acknwledgemrnt of the University's policy on plagarism.


    Assignment Guidelines including Referencing Details
    A copy of the Postgraduate Programs: Communication Skills Guide will have been given to you at the beginning of your program. This guide will assist you structure your assignments. A copy of the guide can also be downloaded from: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/professions/hub/downloads/Communication-Skills-Guide.pdf 

    This publication also provides guidelines on a range of other important communication skills including writing essays and management reports, making oral presentations etc.

    In preparing any written piece of assessment for your postgraduate studies it is important to draw on the relevant ‘literature’ to support critical analysis. Also essential is to reference the literature used. Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present, and sometimes the source of the actual words you use, and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. (Further information on plagiarism is provided later in this course outline.)
    The Harvard system is widely used in the Business School. Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can be found in the Communication Skills Guide.

    Further assistance with referencing is available from the Faculty’s Learning Support Advisors. The contact details are provided on page 6 of the Communication Skills Guide.

    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. A late assignment (without prior arrangement) will be penalised by a 5% mark reduction for each day that it is late.

    Return of Assignments
    Lecturer’s aim to mark and return assignments to students within two (2) weeks of the due date with written feedback. Students are responsible for collecting their marked assignments as advised via email. If assignments aren’t collected after two (2) weeks, the assignments will be available at the Student Hub for two (2) weeks. The remaining assignments will only be posted out to the students, if the correct mailing addresses are on the assignments.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.