LAW4704 - Taxation law - 2017

The unit examines key aspects of the Commonwealth income tax, goods and services tax and superannuation tax systems. It examines taxation theory and policy and maps the constitutional and administrative framework of the federal tax system. The unit focuses on the following topics: goods and services tax, ordinary and statutory income, general and specific deductions, capital allowances, capital gains tax, taxation of companies and shareholders and the taxation of superannuation contributions and investments. Special emphasis is placed on how the taxation law applies to common commercial transactions.

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. understand the basic theoretical, constitutional, administrative and policy framework that underpins the Australian federal taxation system;
2. understand fundamental principles of goods and services tax, income tax and superannuation tax law;
3. understand how to calculate tax liabilities;
4. research, select and apply basic principles of taxation law to generate appropriate responses to practical legal problems and commercial issues;
5. articulate key concepts concerning the operation of the tax system and evaluate these concepts within theoretical, policy, constitutional and commercial contexts;
6. apply interpretive techniques to synthesize legal principles from judicial decisions and apply statutory interpretation principles to determine the meaning of complex legislation;
7. evaluate the basic taxation law implications of common commercial transactions; and
8. communicate and collaborate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive.

1. Collaborative group research paper focusing on a current taxation law issue related to a topic or topics covered in the unit (25%)
2. Final examination 2.5 hours plus 30mins reading and noting time - tests key legal principles and their application to practical taxation problems and that tests how students calculate taxpayer tax liabilities (75%)

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Professor Stephen Barkoczy

For students who commenced their LLB (Hons) course in 2015 or later:

LAW1111; LAW1114; LAW1112; LAW1113; LAW2101; LAW2102; LAW2112; LAW2111; LAW3112

For students who commenced their LLB course prior to 2015:

LAW1100 OR LAW1101 and LAW1102 or LAW1104