Accepting Applications!
The Certificate of Canadian Income Tax Practice includes five mandatory courses with classes hosted online via Zoom once a week over six months. Classes will take place on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm (EST). The upcoming program begins with a welcome session on September 10, 2024 followed by classes starting on September 17, 2024. The program wraps up on March 18, 2025.
Program Schedule
| Title | Date(s) | # of Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
Launch | Welcome and Orientation Session | September 10, 2024 | 1 |
Course 1 | Tax Basics 1 | September 17 - | 6 |
Course 2 | Tax Basics 2 | October 29 - | 6 |
Course 3 | Tax Basics 3 | December 10 - 17, 2024 | 5 |
Course 4 | Financial Statements and Tax | January 28 - | 4 |
Course 5 | Introduction to Tax Law | February 24 - | 4 |
Note- This schedule is tentative.
Course Descriptions
Certificate courses extend beyond the knowledge covered in courses for CPA studies. Using the Income Tax Act, tax compliance software, and other research sources, participants gain a deeper understanding of foundational technical topics, a broader knowledge of applicable tax rules, and their impact on tax compliance.
The following skills are reinforced throughout all courses:
- Understanding the structure and basic provisions of the Income Tax Act
- Researching tax issues
- Preparation of tax memos, letters and reports
- Effective use of tax preparation software – preparing and reviewing compliance
- Integrating technology in tax practice
The following summarizes the topics covered in each course:
1. Tax I topics
Introduction to tax course software and technology
Identifying tax issues
Computation of, and compliance for, employment income and deductions
Computation of, and compliance for, business and other income and deductions
Computation of personal taxes payable and T1 return preparation
2. Tax II topics
Taxable entities (sole proprietors v. corporations, trusts, partnerships)
Relationships for tax purposes
Computation of corporate taxes payable and T2 return preparation
3. Tax III topics
QSBC share tests and computation of the LCGE
Tax implications of share redemptions and importance of PUC
Basic tax rules, implications, and compliance for common corporate reorganizations (loss restriction events, s.84.1, wind-ups, amalgamations)
Computing and compliance for common elections and information returns (T2054 (CDA), T2057 (s.85), T1135, s.116)
4. Financial Statements and Tax
Interaction between financial statements and corporate tax returns and compliance
Computation and review of moderately complex tax provisions and deferred taxes
Reviewing financial statement note disclosures for completeness
Review of T2 corporate tax compliance using tax preparation software and financial statements, issue identification and requirement for additional compliance
5. Introduction to Tax Law
Introduction to statutory interpretation - reading and interpreting tax statutes
Finding, reading, and interpreting secondary sources of law (case law, CRA documents, etc.)
Conducting effective tax research using Boolean search techniques
Assessment
Assessment for each course includes formative and summative assignments as outlined by each instructor. The purpose of these assignments is to support and gauge the learning. Participants can expect to dedicate approximately 5 - 7 hours per week to course-related activities, which includes attending the weekly 3-hour class session.
Upon successful completion of ALL program segments (including all assignments and no less than 90% overall attendance), participants will receive a formal Certificate of Canadian Income Tax Practice.