Occupational Certificate: Tax Professional

Course overview

Tax professionals are highly sought-after in South Africa as they are able to provide tax advice, business structuring, and analyse tax risks. In addition, tax professionals are able to assist taxpayers in complex controversy management and provide a full scope of tax legal analysis, opinions, and risk management.

Combining theory and practice, this sought-after professional occupational qualification will provide you with the advanced skillset to work as a tax professional. During the programme, you will develop knowledge and practical application related to corporate, personal, VAT and payroll taxation as it applies in a South African context. This includes providing tax advice, analysing tax risk, and developing the practical skill required for complex controversy management.

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 qualification, you would be enhancing the quality of tax services you provide and will be able to build a rewarding career.

Mode of delivery

Online learning with flexible weekly study plans.

Effort and duration

Duration: 30 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.
• Tax administration, practice management and ethics.
• Personal income tax.
• Taxation of employees.
• Wealth succession planning (donations tax, estate duty and trusts).
• Fundamental accounting for tax practice.
• Value-added tax and other indirect tax.
• Advanced tax fundamentals.
• Corporate shareholder transactional tax.
• International tax fundamentals.

The practical skills modules included in the curriculum:

Advisory, controversy management and compliance related to:

• Corporate and shareholder taxation.
• Value-added taxation (VAT).
• Personal income tax.
• Employment payroll tax.

Career fields, possible job titles and work environments

The qualified tax professional holding an NQF 8 level qualification is regarded as a critical skill in South Africa. The following job and designation titles are associated with this qualification:

• Chartered tax advisor.
• Tax professional.
• Tax consultant.
• Head of tax.
• Tax director.
• Tax executive.
• Tax manager.
• SARS registered tax practitioner.

This programme is for you if:

• You are seeking a learning pathway to become a tax professional.
• You have a first qualification in accounting, tax or law and want to build your advanced practical skills in taxation.
• You are a qualified tax technician and believe that you are ready advance your career prospects and develop the skills to be able to provide services for more complex tax compliance and controversy issues.
• You want to establish your own tax consulting and advisory practice.

Applicants must have:

• A minimum NQF level 7 qualification in taxation, accounting, or law.
• This includes the following qualifications:
  • BCom or LLB with a minimum of two tax modules and one accounting module.
  • SAICA, ACCA and CIMA professional qualification.
  • Occupational Certificate: Tax Technician (NQF 6).

If you have more than three years of tax specific work experience, you may qualify for recognition of prior learning. Please refer to the Occupational Certificate: Tax Professional (Accelerator Programme).

After successful completion of this programme, you will be able to perform the following tax advisory functions at an advanced level:

• Manage corporate, personal, VAT and payroll taxation compliance of significant complexity.
• Advise on corporate, personal, VAT and payroll tax risks, processes, and transactions.
• Manage corporate, personal, VAT and payroll tax controversy.

The qualification is registered at a NQF level 8 on the National Qualification Framework (NQF) by the Occupational Council for Trade Occupations (QCTO) as follows:

• Occupational Certificate: Tax Professional at NQF Level 8: SAQA ID 118776.

Student support and online campus

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

Flexible payment options

Payment option 1: Once-off payment 

Once-off payment: R38 300.00.

Alternatively, three semester payments: R12 767.00 per semester (to be paid on or before semester start date).

Application fee (non-refundable, immediate payment upon registration): R1 950.00. 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): R1 950.00.

• Start of first semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R5 000.00. First semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R1 626.00 per month.
• Start of second semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R5 000.00. Second semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R1 626.00 per month.
• Start of third semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R5 000.00. Second semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R1 626.00 per month.
• Please note semester invoicing will be processed every six (6) months.

Total for debit order option: R41 340.00.

* First debit order will be collected from the second month of semester start date. Remaining 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 fees exclude the cost of the EISA.

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 iLearn platform will be communicated, should your payment not reflect on The Tax Faculty’s bank account.
• Only written notice of cancellation will be accepted.

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.
• Students who have failed to successfully complete either the first or second semester of the course, and wishing to repeat, will be charged a fee of R7 770.00 to repeat per semester. We will offer a 20% discount if the fee is settled as a once-off payment before the repeat start date. The third semester repeat will, however, be charged at R11 950.00.