Tax Technician (NQF 6) (Accelerator Programme)

 Course Overview

A practical and flexible course, this accelerator programme is aimed at experienced tax practitioners who are seeking a bridging course in the fundamentals of taxation to consolidate their skills.

This leading course combines theory and practice to ensure students can immediately apply their skills in practice for corporate, personal, VAT and payroll taxation in a South African context.

Expand your network with The Tax Faculty as you learn alongside a cohort of like-minded individuals and gain essential skills for the future world of work. By successfully completing this occupational qualification, you will advance your career.

Mode of Delivery

Online learning with flexible weekly study plans.

Effort and Duration

Duration: 18 months.

Weekly effort: Six to eight hours a week.

What you will Learn in this Course

The knowledge modules included in the curriculum:

• General tax fundamentals.
• Personal income tax.
• Taxation of employees.
• Tax administration, practice management and ethics.
• Fundamental accounting for tax practice.
• Value-added tax and other indirect taxes.
• Corporate income tax.

The Practical Skills Modules Included in the Curriculum:

This Programme is for you if:

• You are experienced in tax and require an NQF 6 qualification which includes tax and accounting in order to comply with the current SARS requirements to register as a tax practitioner.
• You are working for SARS.
• You want to gain the required practical and technical skills to complete the latest SARS income tax and VAT returns for both corporates and individuals.
• You are experienced and want to establish your own tax practice.

Admission Requirements

Applicants on this accelerated programme must meet both the tax work experience component and academic component as follows:

Tax Work Experience

• Applicants must have least 18 months of exclusive tax experience or 36 months of general tax or accounting work experience.
• Evaluation of prior learning will be assessed based on a formal application for recognition of prior learning (RPL) with the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT).
• At least 18 months of work experience is required during the completion of the academic and practical skills component of the programme.

Academic Component

• Applicants must have a minimum NQF level 4 qualification which includes Accounting and Mathematics or Maths Literacy.
• Recently completed annual tax CPD programmes or short learning programmes in tax such as SARS internal training. This will be assessed via a knowledge assessment and diagnostic. A minimum of 45% across all components is required.

Accreditation and NQF Level

The qualification is registered at a NQF level 6 on the National Qualification Framework (NQF) by the Occupational Council for Trade Occupations (QCTO) as follows:

• Occupational Certificate: Tax Technician at NQF Level 6 SAQA ID 118770.

The Tax Faculty is a registered skills development provider under the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No 97 of 1998) to deliver the academic and practical skills component of the qualification Accreditation number: 07-QCTO/SDP070223111004.

Assessment of the Knowledge, Practical and Workplace Component

This occupational qualification consists of three components: Knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience.

The knowledge and practical skills consist of a number of learning outcomes. Each are assessed by various formative and summative assessments that are conducted by The Tax Faculty. Learners need to achieve competency in each outcome, and an overall pass may not be sufficient.

The workplace experience component must be completed through 30 months of work experience (unless RPL is applied) in the field of South African tax law and assessed via logbooks which are submitted throughout the programme.

If you aim to become a Tax Advisor with SAIT, you will be required to complete this process through SAIT’s logbook and monitoring system at an additional cost.

For more information on your road to the EISA examination – how to qualify, the next steps in your learning journey and our role as your skills development partner, please click here.

Final Integrated Assessment and Award of Certificate

Candidates who successfully complete all the three components, namely, knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience will receive a statement of results issued by The Tax Faculty as the skills development partner of the QCTO.

Candidates with a statement of results will be eligible to write the external integrated summative assessment (EISA) administered by the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT) on behalf of QCTO at an additional fee.

Learners will be required to register for EISA within two years of receipt of our final statement of results (SOR). Failure to adhere to the 2-year period, could result in re-registration or application for a updated SOR via an approved RPL process.

Upon successful completion of the EISA, successful candidates will receive the Occupational Certificate: Tax Technician (NQF 6) issued by QCTO.

Student Support and Online Campus

The academic and practical skills component of the qualification is delivered on The Tax Faculty's online Tax Campus.

This will be your virtual campus for the duration of the programme. The course is presented as micro-learning videos, study guides, practice quizzes, discussion forums, practical case studies, assignment briefs and guided presentations on how to master case studies and assignments. Academic lecturers are available on the Q&A portal as they would be in a classroom.

At the beginning of each semester, you'll be presented with the course content plan, a study plan and important assignment dates which are set out at manageable deadlines. This will help you study at your own pace.

In addition, you will be allocated a course consultant who will help you navigate the online campus, support you with your weekly participation and deadlines, and will be able to answer any administrative queries you may have.

Course Fees

Learners who register and successfully complete the diagnostic and compliance pre-approval course at R2 100.00 once-off, will qualify to apply for the accelerator course with the below payment options available.

Successful completion of the pre-approval course is a prerequisite to be eligible to apply for the accelerator course.

Payment Option 1: Once-off Payment 

Once-off payment: R39 500.00

Alternatively, two semester payments: R19 750.00 per semester (to be paid on or before semester start date).

Application fee (non-refundable, immediate payment upon registration): R450.00. This amount is included in the once-off total and will not be charged additionally.

Payment Option 2: Debit Order

Once-off application fee (non-refundable, immediate payment upon registration): R450.00.

• Start of first semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R7 000.00. First semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R2 700.00 per month.
• Start of second semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R7 000.00. Second semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R2 700.00 per month. 
• Please note semester invoicing will be processed every six (6) months.

Total for debit order option: R41 450.00.

* Debit orders will be collected on the first working day of each month.

** Additional charges may apply to your RPL application subject to your portfolio of evidence and workplace experience component. 

The following costs are excluded:

• Logbook completion to prove workplace experience competency: R2 400.00 per annum.
• EISA exam payable to SAIT upon eligibility approval.
• Repeat fees.
• Supplementary exams.

Payments and Cancellations

• All required minimum payments must be made by direct EFT or by credit card before the commencement of a course. The once-off payment is required to be paid before the course start date, as well as the application fee of learners on a debit order plan (the first debit order is also required on the start date of the course).
• Kindly note that should debit order payment terms not be adhered to; legal action will be taken and access to the online learning platform suspended.
• Proof of payment may also be requested before access to the platform will be communicated, should your payment not reflect on The Tax Faculty’s bank account.
• Only written notice of cancellation will be accepted.
• To view our full terms & conditions click here.

Conditions

For Courses with a 12-month or Longer Rollout, the Following will Apply:

• If the cancellation is requested more than two weeks prior to the course start date, no cancellation fee will be applicable.
• If the cancellation occurs less than two weeks prior to the course start date, a 25% cancellation fee will be applicable on the full course fee.
• Should a cancellation be received within six weeks after the course start date, the student will still be liable for 50% of the full course fee.
• Should the cancellation be received after six weeks of the course start date, the student will be liable for the full course fee.
• The course application fee is non-refundable.
• Students who register for a course and fail to attend will be held liable for the full course fee.
• Repeat fees for failed semesters will apply.