Module
Principles of International Taxation
Module description
Summary:
Students will be introduced to debates in a number of key topics in international taxation and latest research from a number of disciplinary perspectives including accounting, law, economics and politics.
Additional Information:
Internationalisation
This module takes an international perspective on taxation and considers examples from all over the world.
Sustainability
All of the resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).
External Engagement
Guest lecturers from international tax practice regularly participate in the module.
Employability
Students develop their ability to analyse, research, and to write reports and essays. The core text for this module is one that is regularly used by practitioners, so students also develop practical skills through their work.
Full module specification
Module title: | Principles of International Taxation |
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Module code: | BEAM051 |
Module level: | M |
Academic year: | 2020/1 |
Module lecturers: |
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Module credit: | 15 |
ECTS value: | 7.5 |
Pre-requisites: | Available to students on the MSc Accounting and Finance programme |
Co-requisites: | None |
Duration of module: |
Duration (weeks) - term 1: 5 |
Module aims
This module aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in a number of key topics in international taxation, drawing on research and practices from around the globe. Students will be encouraged to be inquisitive, and critical of contemporary developments; developing their ability to integrate and synthesise different topics and approaches in order to enter into current debates.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. describe, compare, contrast and critically evaluate various key aspects of international taxation including: alternative contexts (e.g. economic, social, cultural and political) within which international taxation operates; key components of the international taxation system including jurisdiction, residence and source; various techniques for dealing with the integration of tax systems, including double tax relief mechanisms, double tax agreements and other forms of international co-operation; and the role of supranational organizations such as the EC, OECD, United Nations and IMF in influencing and shaping the development of the international taxation system
- 2. criticise and challenge theoretical perspectives on various dimensions of international taxation including capital import, export and ownership neutrality, tax completion and tax avoidance
- 3. discuss and critically evaluate extant academic research relating to various key themes in international taxation
- 4. integrate and synthesise module topics to discuss the key issues in international taxation theory and practice; comment on the associated current debates, and suggest potential future areas for development
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 5. demonstrate powers of research in the academic literature and texts
- 6. demonstrate powers of academic literature criticism
- 7. discuss and articulate different perspectives on contemporary issues
- 8. demonstrate powers of integration and synthesis
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 9. demonstrate an ability to undertake independent study and manage time
- 10. demonstrate effective written communication skills
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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33 | 117 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 33 | Lectures and discussion classes |
Guided independent study | 33 | Preparation for discussion classes |
Guided independent study | 84 | Reading and research |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Weekly tasks for debate and discussion | In class | 1-10 | In class |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Mid-Term Test | 20 | 1 hour | 1-4 | Verbal and written feedback |
Written examination | 80 | 2 hours | 1-10 | Formal (departmental/university channels) |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Mid-term test & Written examination | 2 hour written examination | 1-10 | August examination period |
Re-assessment notes
Students who fail the module overall will be reassessed by way of a two-hour written examination in the summer of the respective academic year.
Syllabus plan
The module syllabus may change from year to year depending on current developments. Indicative topics covered are as follows:
- Introduction to international taxation including a brief historical overview
- Key aspects of international taxation – jurisdiction, residence, source
- The double tax problem: what happens when two (or more) countries try to tax the same profits?
- Bilateral and multilateral double tax agreements as mechanisms for overcoming double taxation
- International tax planning for large multinational companies, including relationships with revenue
- authorities in different jurisdictions
- Tax avoidance and evasion in an international setting, including the role of tax havens
- The role of supranational organizations in shaping the international tax environment
- Tax competition and attempts at harmonisation
- Tax and development
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Oats, L. and Mulligan, E. (2019) Principles of International Taxation, 7th Edition, Bloomsbury Professional.
In addition, various research and practice oriented articles and reports will be recommended and some made available in hard copy throughout the course of the module.
Other relevant texts:
Lymer, A. and Hasseldine, J. (2002) The International Tax System, Kluwer Academic Publishers. Braithwaite, J. and Drahos, P. (2000) Global Business Regulation, Cambridge University Press. Picciotto, S. (1992) International Business Taxation, Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
www.oecd.org
www.taxworld.org
IBFD Tax Research Platform (available through the Exeter library electronic resources)
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Relevant academic journals:
- World Tax Journal (via IBFD Tax Research Platform)
- International Bulletin for Fiscal Documentation (via IBFD Tax Research Platform)
- International Tax Review
- International Tax and Public Finance
- Tax Law Review
- Tax Adviser
- European Taxation
Origin date
01/09/2011
Last revision date
22/07/2020