Accounting and MIS 7420: Tax Accounting III
Course Syllabus – Spring 2017
Mon. and Wed. 1:00 – 2:30 pm – Gerlach Hall 305
Instructor: Alan Lacko
Office: 454 Fisher Hall
E-mail: (preferred method of contact)
Office Hours: Tue. and Thur. 2:00 to 3:30
Course Materials:
Required - Hoffman, Raabe, Smith, Maloney, 2016 ed. South-Western Federal Taxation: Corporations, Partnerships, Estates and Trusts, ISBN 978-1-3056-1718-6 (earlier versions of the text as well as the electronic version are acceptable)
Course Description:
This course involves a study of the advanced federal income tax issues of generally applicable to businesses organized as corporations Prerequisite: AMIS 4410, AMIS 7410, enrollment in the Master of Accounting program, or equivalent.
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to acquaint the student with several advanced topics of current interest in the tax law. The course is not intended to turn the student into a tax expert on the subject, nor is it designed to prepare one for the taking of professional examinations.
Students are assumed to be interested in becoming business advisors, with an emphasis on financial and accounting subject matters.
Course Methods:
AMIS 7420 is conducted primarily in lecture/discussion format. My job is to help you understand key concepts and issues. I will explain and illustrate important concepts in a lecture-like format, and I will engage you in dialogue through answering questions and working through problems in class. Your job is to be prepared for every class by reading (in advance) the relevant chapter and completing the assigned problems. Class sessions will be most productive if you come to class with a basic understanding of the concepts being covered. You are encouraged to ask questions and be actively involved in class discussions.
Course Communication:
Course information and assignments will be communicated via Carmen and university e-mail, so it is important that you regularly check your accounts.
Professionalism/Participation:
Attendance and being actively engaged in class is expected in the business world and it is expected in this course. The objective of the course is not to merely instill general tax knowledge, but also to help you prepare to communicate and engage in the real business world. You are expected to respond to and ask questions.
Homework:
Homework assignments will not be collected or graded and will generally not be reviewed in class. Recommended homework problems will be posted on Carmen throughout the semester, and the solutions to these problems will also be posted on Carmen. These assignments are designed to help you perform well on the graded cases and the final exam.
Workshop – Cases:
Students will work through two cases pertaining to topics covered in the course. Students may work in groups and these cases will generally be completed during class in a workshop setting. You may use the textbook and class notes while working through these assignments. No make-up assignments will be given.
Short Paper - Analysis of Current Issues
A couple of the issues that we will cover have some degree of controversy surrounding them. In particular, the taxation of U.S multi-national corporations has been a subject of debate for several years. It is likely that changes will be proposed to these rules in the near future. Based on the material we cover in class, plus a couple of assigned articles, you will need to prepare a short paper (4 pages double spaced) describing the issues and your opinions on alternative strategies for possible changes in the law.
Exam:
A comprehensive final exam will be given at the completion of the class. The exam will be a take home exam.
Course Grade:
The total points that you earn will determine your final grade in this course. The maximum points you can earn from each are as follows:
Cases/Workshops 36
Paper 24
Final Exam 40
Total 100
Notification of Scores and Final Grades:
The results of any graded materials, including final grades, will not be given by the instructor to individual students via phone, e-mail or prior to the initial returning of the assignment in class. Final grades will be available online from the Registrar within one week following the final exam.
Office Appointments:
My office hours are listed on the front page of the syllabus. Any changes to these hours will be communicated via e-mail. You should make it a habit to ask questions about the material during regular class time, as this enhances the learning experience of the entire class. It is your responsibility to keep up with the course material and to ask questions in a timely manner.
Disability Services:
The Office of Disability Services verifies students with specific disabilities and develops strategies to meet the needs of those students. Students requiring accommodations based on identified disabilities should contact the instructor at the beginning of the quarter to discuss his or her individual needs. All students with a specific disability are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services to explore the potential accommodations available to them.
Academic Misconduct:
Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. According to University Rule 3335-31-02, all suspected cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct. This includes receiving assistance on ANY graded assignment from any outside source or individual other than your instructor. Students can report suspected violations of academic integrity or student misconduct to faculty or to a program’s leadership. All reported cases of academic misconduct are actively pursued and confidentiality is maintained.
It is also expected that each student will behave in a manner that is consistent with the Fisher Honor Statement, which reads as follows:
As a member of the Fisher College of Business community, I am personally committed to the highest standards of behavior. Honesty and integrity are the foundations from which I will measure my actions. I will hold myself accountable to adhere to these standards. As a future leader in the community and business environment, I pledge to live by these principles and celebrate those who share these ideals.
Teaching Plan and Assignment Schedule:
The following schedule is subject to change; changes will be announced in class and posted on Carmen. Items listed in the assignment column of this schedule are action items necessary to prepare for class on the corresponding day.
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