Time Schedule:
Mary W Clarfeld
ACCTG 539
Seattle Campus
Decision-making processes in relation to problems of taxation. Tools of tax analysis and research and the communication of conclusions flowing from professional tax work. Role of the professional accountant in client business transactions and in negotiations with taxing authorities is highlighted and simulated on the basis of actual case histories. Prerequisite: undergraduate accounting concentration or equivalent.
Class description
This section of Tax Research is actually Communications for Tax Professionals - a three quarter, 8 credit class. You will register for this class in Winter quarter '03 and Spring Quarter '03, but will be required to participate fully in the class during Fall '02 despite the odd registration in Tax Research. Please plan to attend the full hours from noon til 3:20 - the sections will be divided by days, not necessarily by time. Due to the nature of the assignments and activities, the schedule is not set in stone and you need to block off both days and the full time even if your section will not meet every time. Please see the course description on the syllabus linked to my web page: http://faculty.washington.edu/mwclarf You can expect to improve your writing and presentation skills over the 9 months we work together. If you already have good writing and/or presentation skills, you can expect to polish them and stretch your skills. Improvement is possible for all levels of communicators!
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
We will link with all your tax classes, both in the subject matter we work with and in the actual assignments prepared. Almost every paper you submit to the other tax instructors will be submitted for credit in this class as well. You will be asked to rewrite many of the assignments after feedback from the instructor.
Recommended preparation
Reading outside of the Internal Revenue Code and your tax textbooks is HIGHLY recommended. Immersing yourself in legalistic and convoluted writing will help you become more obscure and less readable - never mind your ability to explain verbally those tricky tax questions. Reading the NY Times and/or Business Week or similar journals will help your style stay fresh, readable and enjoyable. Grammar is critical for tax professionals - we will work on some of the most common errors, so relax, help is here.
Class assignments and grading
Letters, memos, client presentations, lectures to other professionals, some group projects, mock client meetings etc. Presentations are videotaped and you can expect to watch yourself and try to improve on a second run through.
Evaluation of portfolio (folder with assignments), attendance, participation, improvement over time. Grades are not posted until after Spring Quarter - however, you will have a document in your folder at the end of each quarter with a "grade" based on work to date. There are 800 points available to earn each quarter, for a total of 2400 points. This is mathematically adjusted to the standard UW grading system.
