Australian Income Tax System

Subject LAWS70323 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Miranda Stewart

Contact

For the most up-to-date information about this subject, contact the Melbourne Law Masters Office by email at law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone 8344 6190 or alternatively visit the subject website: www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

This subject will cover the following substantive tax law topics:

  • Taxation in Australia's federal system, overview of federal and state taxes, constitutional issues, how tax laws are made, sources of tax law and tax rates
  • The Australian income tax base: Calculation of taxable income, including definition of income from services, property and business, capital gains, allowable deductions, treatment of business assets, including trading stock and depreciating assets
  • Overview of income tax of partnerships and companies as business entities, tax treatment of companies and shareholders, including contributions to capital, distributions, dealings in shares, corporate acquisitions and company losses
  • Tax avoidance and evasion, general anti-avoidance rule
  • Tax practice, including the role of the Commissioner of Taxation and the Australian Taxation Office, assessments, returns and payment of tax rulings and appeals.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should have:

  • A solid knowledge of the core tax law principles in the Australian tax system, with a focus on Australia's most important tax - the federal income tax
  • A good understanding of the administration of Australia's tax system, including how a taxpayer engages in the income tax assessment, collection, rulings and appeals process
  • A good understanding of how tax laws are made, federal and state tax issues and principles of tax policy
  • The ability to locate tax law sources and research a tax law issue.
Assessment:

Tax law research task, presented during class (30%)
7,000 word structured assignment (70%) (10 June)

Prescribed Texts: Visit the subject website for more information
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Links to further information: http://www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

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