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Taxation

Overview

Taxation programs prepare people to provide tax advice and services.

Taxation programs teach people about tax law and tax planning. Students learn to fill out tax forms. They also learn about estates, capital gains and losses, and depreciation.

Taxation programs include topics such as:

Schools

Several community colleges and career and technical schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in taxation. A certificate program usually takes a few months to a year of full-time study. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years to complete.

A few colleges offer taxation as a specialty in an accounting bachelor’s degree program. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study. With an additional year of courses (perhaps a master's degree) and some accounting work experience, you may qualify for the Certified Public Accountant exam. As a tax accountant, you can advise individuals and businesses about tax issues.

Some universities offer graduate degrees in taxation. One option is to focus on taxation while earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

It is also possible to get a law degree with a concentration in tax laws. Law school typically requires three years beyond the bachelor's degree. Several law schools offer programs where you can specialize in taxation.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

Proprietary schools, colleges, and universities all offer this program. If you want to study at a proprietary school, you can prepare for this program of study by completing your high school diploma or getting a GED. If you want to study at a college or university, you can prepare for this program by taking the following courses: four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs or law school is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. For graduate school or business school, your bachelor's degree should be in accounting or another business field. If your undergraduate major was not business-related, you should take several courses in accounting. Other recommended courses are economics, statistics, and business law. You should also take courses in management information systems and management.

For law school, your bachelor's degree can be in almost any field, but it should emphasize writing and critical thinking skills. Also, since you intend to specialize in taxation, courses in accounting, taxation, and other business subjects can be useful.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

A program in tax preparation typically includes courses in the following subjects:

A program to prepare for the enrolled agent exam typically includes courses in the following subjects:

For typical courses in the accounting and auditing program, see that program description.

Graduate Program Courses

An MBA in taxation typically includes courses in some of the following subjects:

Things to Know

In some states, you may need to pass a licensing exam.

To represent tax clients at the first level of the Federal Tax Court, you need to be an enrolled agent. You must acquire work experience as a tax preparer, get additional training, and pass a four-part exam given by the IRS.

Business courses in high school can be very useful preparation for a career in taxation. Your high school transcripts need to show that you are preparing for a demanding college-level program.

Schools

East Side Area

Central Washington University

King-Snohomish Area

Golden Gate University - Seattle

Northeastern University - Seattle

Shoreline Community College

University of Washington - Seattle

Kitsap Area

Olympic College

Spokane Area

Gonzaga University

Tacoma Area

Tacoma Community College