Course Overview
In today’s fast-paced and high-stakes business environment, tax professionals are no longer just compliance specialists. They are strategic advisers—called upon to interpret complex legislation, navigate commercial risk, and deliver tax advice and opinions that drive confident decision-making.This Professional Certificate in Tax Advisory and Opinion Writing is designed to equip you with the full spectrum of competencies that distinguish elite tax advisers: deep doctrinal research skills, strategic judgment, and the ability to communicate clear, defensible, and commercially aligned advice. This course is more than a technical programme—it is a professional transformation to set you apart in a world of automation and self-assessments.
Mode of Delivery
Online with flexible weekly study plans.
Effort and Duration
Duration: Four months.
Weekly effort: Four to six hours per week.
What you will Learn in this Course
The course is delivered online and covers the following modules, topics and practical areas:
Module 1: Tax Research
This module will equip you with the core doctrinal research skills that underpin authoritative tax advice. You’ll learn to think like a tax strategist, dissect tax rules with precision, and interpret precedent with the judgment required of a trusted adviser.
Module 2: Tax Advisory and Opinions
This module bridges the gap between tax law research and professional practice. Here, you’ll learn how to turn complex tax findings into clear, actionable advice that aligns with commercial realities, mitigates risk, and stands up to scrutiny from SARS, auditors, and the courts.
Module 3: Interpretation of Annual Financial Statements: Tax Advisory
In tax advisory, legal research and opinion writing are only part of the equation. To give truly strategic advice, you must understand the financial statements that reflect your client’s business decisions, risks, and tax exposure. This module empowers you to do exactly that.
The Course is for you if:
- You are a registered tax practitioner and need to build your tax advisory skills.
- You are an associate manager at an advisory firm, or a person transitioning into associate manager level.
- You are an in-house tax practitioner at a large corporate firm and need to build your confidence, skills, and competencies to apply principles in your daily work.
- You are seeking the experience and practical scenarios to respond to tax advisory work.
Admission Requirements
A solid foundation of taxation is required for this course, particularly corporate taxation. The admission requirements are, therefore:
- NQF 7 with tax as a subject and two-years tax experience.
- Alternatively, the Occupational Certificate: Tax Technician (NQF 6) with an additional two-years tax working experience.
Outcomes
After successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Clarify and define the tax issues across tax types.
- Identify the relevant legislation, regulations and judicial decisions pertaining to the issue at hand.
- Formulate an opinion on the best course of action to address or mitigate the issue, based on expert application of the facts to the tax related legal framework.
- Draft a projection on the impact the course of action will have on the entity’s tax liability.
- Assist clients in reducing future tax disputes.
Learning Methodology
The Tax Faculty’s inductive learning approach transforms tax education — shifting from passive content absorption to active discovery. Students take the lead by researching, analysing, and applying tax concepts before receiving formal content. This method builds confidence, problem-solving skills, and long-term understanding — empowering students to excel professionally.
What to Expect:
- Pre-Quizzes: Test your initial knowledge and prep for deeper learning.
- Discussion Forums: Engage in case-based scenarios, applying tax principles to real-world challenges.
- Live Sessions: Learn from expert tax professionals who unpack complex real-world case studies and practical insights.
- Post-Quizzes: Reinforce understanding and track your progress.
- Ongoing Support: Lecturers provide continuous guidance and feedback throughout your journey.
- Structured and Engaging Weekly Commitment: This isn’t a self-paced course. It’s a structured, interactive experience designed to keep you engaged, thinking critically, and applying tax knowledge every week.
Join us and experience a modern learning approach that bridges tax theory with practical expertise — preparing you to thrive in the evolving world of taxation.
Accreditation
The Tax Faculty (TTF) is recognised as a continuous professional development (CPD) provider by controlling bodies accredited in terms of the Tax Administration Act No 28 of 2011.
TTF also holds accreditation with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) as a Skills Development Partner (SDP) under the Skills Development Act No 97 of 1998 to deliver the academic and practical skills components of the Tax Technician and Tax Professional Occupational qualifications. Accreditation number 07-QCTO/SDP070223111004.
Assessment and Award of Certificate
Learners are assessed via a number of formative and summative assessments. Successful learners will receive a Short Learning Programme (SLP) certificate of competence issued by The Tax Faculty, which is not credit bearing and does not lead to a qualification. However, successful learners articulating into the Occupational Certificate: Tax Technician (NQF 6) through The Tax Faculty, will obtain a statement of results towards the NQF 6 qualification. In addition, this just-in-time learning programme meet the requirements for verifiable tax CPD credits.
Student Support and Online Campus
The academic and practical skills component of the programme 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
Payment Option 1: Once-off Payment
Total: R21 950.00.
Payment Option 2: Debit Order
Application fee (non-refundable): R1 950.00.
Three instalments: R7 000.00 per month.
Total: R22 950.00.
* First debit order will be collected on course start date. Remaining debit orders will be collected on the first working day of each month.
The following costs are excluded:
- Repeat fees.
- Supplementary exams.
- Textbooks.
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 online platform will be communicated, should your payment not reflect on The Tax Faculty’s bank account.
- Only written notice of cancellation will be accepted.
- Learners who have failed to successfully complete the course and wish to repeat, will be charged the full normal fee to repeat.
- To view our full terms & conditions click here.
Conditions
For all Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) with a Four-month or Less Rollout Period, the Following will Apply:
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If the cancellation is requested more than 10 working days prior to the course start date, no cancellation fee will be applicable.
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If the cancellation occurs less than 10 working days prior to the course start date, a 100% cancellation fee will be applicable.
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Students who register for a course and fail to attend will be held liable for the full course fee.
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The course application fee is non-refundable.
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The Tax Faculty’s liability in the case of a course being cancelled will be limited to a refund of the course fee.
Why wait?
Get your application in to avoid disappointment. Click below to start your application.
