Course: ta 322a, section c1

Course: TA 322A, Section C1 Federal Income Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders I 1. Course Description This course analyzes the tax treatment, tax problems and tax planning techniques involving transactions between corporations and their shareholders: transfers to corporations; capital structure; dividends and other distributions; stock redemptions and liquidations; stock dividends and preferred stock bailouts; and provides an introduction to S corporations. Prerequisite TA 330. 2. Course Objectives The objective of the course is to provide students with a firm understanding of tax issues concerning corporations and their shareholders, and to provide them with a platform of information for more complex classes in corporation taxation. Students will be required to recognize and analyze corporate tax issues, and clearly communicate the results. 3. Required Materials The following materials are required for the course: 1. TA 322A Printed Materials (July 2010) – John McWilliams, School of Taxation 2. Bittker & Eustice, Federal Income Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders (with Supplement), Student Edition, Seventh Edition, Warren, Gorham & Lamont (2000) 3. Internal Revenue Code (current) 4. Income Tax Regulations (current) BookStore: To purchase course books and materials from eFollett, GGU’s official online bookstore, please see the “ Important Info” section of this course. University Library There are several databases available through the Golden Gate University Library for students to conduct research on various topics. Remote (off campus) access to the databases requires your last name and student ID# (located on the front of your ID card). Be sure to type in ALL 7 digits, including the starting 0. Example: 0123456. You may access the library from GGU’s homepage at http://www. ggu. edu. 4. Contacting the instructor The preferred method of contact is by email. Phone availability is from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday for urgent issues or items that cannot be resolved by email. Please leave a message if you receive voicemail. 5. Course Requirements, Student Responsibilities, Evaluations Course Requirements This class is designed to provide you with the ability to recognize and analyze corporate tax issues. It is assumed that the student will have read all the assigned readings by the start of the week (each Monday). Please make the appropriate time allowances for preparing for each session. Being adequately prepared for each week is a key part of your responsibility in this course. The class format is one of active learning and analysis, rather than memorization. Student Responsibilities Students are expected to read all the assigned readings and participate timely on a weekly basis. Students will also be required to timely submit one research assignment, and complete a proctored mid-term exam and a proctored final exam. Participation Participation is a key element of this class, which is achieved through postings in the online classroom. Participation is comprised of three elements: online solutions to assigned problems; responses to those problems; and general discussion. In order to receive participation credit, students should indicate an understanding of the assigned readings, and review of other students’ postings on the topic. No credit will be given for late postings, postings that clearly indicate that the student has not read the assigned material, or postings that repeat previous discussion points without adding content. Real world examples from your work or relevant external reading are encouraged. Evaluations You will receive an opportunity to evaluate the course and instructor at least once this term. 6. Course Procedure Participation You will have assigned reading to be done prior to each week, including the first week. You will also be assigned problems to present online to the class. Each solution should clearly indicate your working, and cite any and all relevant authority (please note that “ per Bittker and Eustice” is not sufficient). As many of you have work deadlines, you may request specific problems for assignment, although no guarantee is made that you will receive your requested assignment(s). You may also request two weeks not receive any assignments, although you will be responsible for general participation during that time. Answers to the assigned problems must be posted by the assigned student by midnight on Monday each week (except for the first week). If you do not post your solution by that time, you will not receive any credit for the problem, and it will be open to any other student to post their solution. Although it is not essential for your answer to be 100% accurate in order to receive participation points, it will be necessary for you to indicate an understanding of the material. No credit will be given for answers that clearly indicate a lack of reading the assigned material. It is anticipated that students will discuss the solutions to other students’ problems. Please do not post your entire solution unless the answer posted is clearly erroneous in its entirety. Instead comment on the answer posted. Additional discussion points will be raised throughout the week, in which students will be expected to participate. It is anticipated that students should read the classroom discussion boards two to three times per week, and respond when appropriate. Research Assignment A research assignment will be posted during the second half of the course. This assignment may cover material from the entire course (including the final weeks). The assignment is due by midnight on December 7, 2012. Late assignments will not be accepted, and a zero grade will be given to any assignments posted after the deadline. Exams As with the assigned problems, full working and citations are required in order to receive full credit for the exams. The proctored exams are open book with limitations. You may bring the code and regulations, Bittker and Eustice, and 20 pages of hand-written notes. You will not have any computer or internet access, but you may bring a calculator. Please note that time will be of the essence, and it will therefore be essential to understand the material before commencing the exam. There will not be sufficient time to perform research or significant reading in the exam room. 7. Course Evaluations Your grade will be made up of a number of components. These include: Participation: 10% Midterm Exam: 30% Research Assignment: 10% Final Exam: 50% 8. Grading Policy Grading A AB+ B BC+ C CPercentage 93% – 100% 90% – 92. 9% 87% – 89. 9% 83% – 86. 9% 80% – 82. 9% 77% – 79. 9% 73% – 76. 9% 70% – 72. 9% D+ D DF 67% – 69. 9% 63% – 66. 9% 60% – 62. 9% 0% – 59. 9%