Leader: Stephen Barkoczy

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit covers the concepts of income taxation and the taxation of capital gains, in their underlying historical, social and constitutional contexts. It includes the policy and constitutional matrices of taxation, the legal definition of income, taxation of income from personal services and business, taxation of fringe benefits, indirect taxation on goods and services, taxation of capital gains, allowable deductions from gross income in personal and business contexts and the general effect of anti-avoidance legislation.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should have

1. a basic, up-to-date knowledge of income tax law;
2. an appreciation of taxation law in its historical and constitutional context;
3. a critical knowledge of the central concepts involved in the operation of the income tax system;
4. an awareness of the current tax mix in Australia;
5. an understanding of the dynamic nature of taxation law and the reasons for this dynamism;
6. a clear understanding of the policy issues underlying taxation;
7. developed the ability to evaluate critically new tax proposals;
8. developed skills of statutory interpretation in the context of technical and complex legislation.

Assessment

Research assignment (3000 words): 40%
examination (2.5 hours plus 10 minutes reading time): 60% OR Examination (2.5 hours plus 10 minutes reading time): 100%

Contact hours

Three hours of lectures per week

Prerequisites

LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102 or LAW1104

Prohibitions

BTC3150