Program Curriculum

Applications for the 2025–26 cohort are now closed. If you’d like to join us in the future, complete the form below and we’ll notify you as soon as applications for the 2026–27 cohort open. You’ll also receive occasional updates with program details, deadlines, and important announcements.
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Program Schedule

The Certificate of Canadian Income Tax Practice consists of five mandatory courses, delivered online via Zoom over a six-month period. Classes are held once a week on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00 pm (EST).

The schedule for the Fall 2025 offering is outlined below.

 

Title

Date(s)

# of Sessions

Launch
Welcome and 
Orientation Session
September 9, 2025
1
Course 1
Tax Basics 1
Personal Tax Issues
September 16 - 
October 21, 2025
6
Course 2
Tax Basics 2
Corporate Tax Issues
October 28 - 
December 2, 2025
6
Course 3
Tax Basics 3
Tax Transactions
December 9 and 17*, 2025
Dec 23 - Jan 2, 2025 (Holiday Break)
January 6 - 20, 2026
2

3
Course 4
Financial Statements and Tax
January 27 - 
February 17, 2026
4
Course 5
Introduction to Tax Law
February 25 - 
March 18, 2026
4
Please note that one Course 3 session (December 17) and all Course 5 sessions will take place on Wednesdays. All other program sessions will be held on Tuesdays.
 

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:

Course 1:
Tax I - Personal Tax Issues

Introduction to tax course software and technology
Identifying tax issues
Computation of, and compliance for, employment income, business income, investment income and other income
Computation of personal taxes payable and T1 return preparation
Discussion of tax-deferred savings plans, minimum tax and effective tax rates

Course 2:
Tax II - Corporate Tax Issues

Taxable entities (sole proprietors v. corporations, trusts, partnerships)
Relationships for tax purposes
Computation of corporate taxes payable and T2 return preparation

Course 3:
Tax III - Tax Transactions

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)

 Course 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

 Course 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 6 - 8 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.