Course overview
Tax professionals who stand out amongst their peers are able to advise clients on complex corporate and personal tax affairs. This certificate will give you the skills to analyse tax risk, provide tax advice and develop the practical skill required for controversy management.
During the programme, you will develop knowledge and practical application related to corporate, personal, VAT and payroll taxation as it applies to the 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 course, you will advance your career.
Mode of delivery
Online learning with flexible weekly study plans.
Effort and duration
Duration: 12 months.
Daily effort: 1.5 to 2 hours per day.
What you will learn in this course
The following modules include both the knowledge and practical skills in order to master the subject:
Taxation of Individuals:
- World of Taxation of Individuals and Ethics
- Fundamentals of Tax Administration of Individuals
- Gross Income: Individuals
- Tax Deductions: Sole Proprietors
- Rebates and retirement lump sums
- Taxation of Salaried Employees
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
- Prepaid Taxes
- Principles of International Tax
- Estate Duty
- Donations Tax
Trusts:
- Tax implications of Trust Transactions
Payroll Taxes:
- Practical Payroll
Corporates Taxes:
- World of Business Taxes
- Business Tax in Practice
- Tax Law and Practice
- Fundamentals of Business Tax Administration
- Business Income
- Business Deductions
- Capital Allowances
- Company Structuring
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
- Special Corporate Tax Dispensations
- Provisional Tax
- Dividend’s Tax
Value-Added Tax
- Completing the VAT201 return
- Documentary requirements
- Output VAT
- Input VAT
- VAT Adjustments
This course is for you if:
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You want to gain the required practical and technical skills to complete tax returns.
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You want a tax refresher course that will enable you to prepare for professional body tax practitioner entry exams (such as SAIBA, SAIT and SAIPA).
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You want a SLP certificate in taxation that will earn you the recognition that you deserve.
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You want a tax refresher course.
Admission requirements
Applicants must have:
- A national diploma or equivalent NQF 6 qualification in the field of accounting and tax.
- Alternatively, an NQF 7 BCom/LLB or legacy BTech degrees that have accounting as a core subject.
- Students must have digital literacy and access to laptops and Wi-Fi.
- English communication skills.
Outcomes
A course participant who successfully completes this programme will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the following outcomes:
- Demonstrate the ability to gather and use information from a range of sources and communicate information reliably, accurately, and coherently, using conventions and computerised tools appropriate to the business context of the professional tax practitioner.
- Have an informed understanding of the legal framework and context applicable in South Africa and its impact on taxpayers and tax practitioners, as well the legal and ethical requirements relevant to the tax profession.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the core areas of VAT, personal income tax and corporate income tax. Further understanding of the key terms, concepts, facts, general principles, rules, and theories of the tax profession.
- Able to compute, complete and review advanced tax returns related to VAT, personal income tax and corporate tax within the prescribed regulations, based on relevant evidence and accounting records.
- Formulate a response to resolve a SARS dispute based on a case study scenario and draft a proper objection.
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 assessing their pre-existing knowledge and generating a learning plan before receiving formal content. Coupled with practical guidance on applying theory in real-world contexts — such as completing SARS tax returns, drafting objections, and navigating eFiling — this method builds confidence, problem-solving skills, and long-term understanding — empowering students to excel professionally.
Central to this approach is our adaptive learning model. Each module begins with a diagnostic pre-quiz that identifies your existing knowledge, learning gaps, and priority focus areas. Based on your results, the course guides you toward the content and activities that matter most to your development — so you spend less time on what you already know and more time where growth is needed.
What to Expect:
- Diagnostic Pre-Quizzes: Each topic opens with an adaptive assessment that maps your strengths and gaps, personalising your learning path and preparing you for deeper engagement with the study materials.
- Interactive Study Notes: Each topic is supported by rich, interactive study notes — designed using modern instructional design principles — that supplement the prescribed textbook. These notes bring concepts to life through embedded activities, visual aids, and practical examples, helping you engage with the material actively rather than passively.
- Practical Guides: Each module includes a hands-on practical guide that walks you through the completion of SARS tax returns, objections, and eFiling processes. These guides bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the day-to-day tasks you'll encounter in practice — building your confidence with the systems and procedures that matter most.
- Weekly Discussion Forums: Engage in case-based scenarios, applying tax principles to real-world challenges.
- Live Weekly Sessions: Learn from expert tax professionals who unpack complex real-world case studies and practical insights.
- Post-Quizzes: Reinforce understanding and track your progress against the gaps identified in your diagnostic assessment.
- Ongoing Support: Lecturers provide continuous guidance and feedback throughout your journey — informed by your individual learning profile.
- Structured and Engaging Weekly Commitment: This course is a structured, interactive experience designed to keep you engaged, thinking critically, and applying tax knowledge every week — with each module adapting to meet you where you are.
Join us and experience a modern, adaptive learning approach that bridges tax theory with practical expertise — preparing you to thrive in the evolving world of taxation.
Accreditation
This course is presented as a short learning programme (SLP) by The Tax Faculty (TTF). This programme is accredited by SAIBA for entry into BA(SA) designation and/or BAP(SA). If you have a BCom degree but lacking tax as a core subject, and have four years work experience, this course will be sufficient to apply to register as a BAP(SA) with SAIBA, pending other membership criteria. Thereafter you can apply for their tax practitioner license to obtain a SARS PR number.TTF is accredited with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations as a skills development partner (SDP) under the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No 97 of 1998) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) as ATSA training provider.
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 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.
Flexible payment options:
Payment option 1: Student Loan *
Monthly instalment from R566 per month.
* No application fee applies. Financial Services Provider T&Cs apply.
Payment option 2: Discounted Once-off payment
Full once-off payment: R19 950.00
Payment option 3: Two Semester Payments
Two semester payments: R9 975.75 per semester (to be paid on or before semester start date).
Application fee (non-refundable, immediate payment upon registration): R950.00. This amount is included in the once-off total and will not be charged additionally.
Payment option 4: Monthly Debit order
Once-off application fee (non-refundable, immediate payment upon registration): R950.00
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Start of first semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R2 540.00. First semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R1 600.00 per month.
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Start of second semester (to be paid before or on semester start date): R2 540.00. Second semester remaining debit orders, five instalments: R1 600.00 per month.
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Please note semester invoicing will be processed every six (6) months.
Total for debit order option: R22 030.00
* 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.
The following costs are excluded:
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Repeat fees.
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Supplementary exams.
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Textbooks.
Payments and Cancellations
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Only written notice of cancellation will be accepted.
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To view our full terms & conditions click here.
Conditions
For courses with a 12-month or longer rollout, the following will apply:
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If the cancellation is requested more than two weeks prior to the course start date, no cancellation fee will be applicable.
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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.
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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.
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Should the cancellation be received after six weeks of the course start date, the student will be liable for the full course fee.
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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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Students who have failed to successfully complete the course, and wishing to repeat will be charged the full course fee to repeat.
Why wait?
Get your application in to avoid disappointment. Click below to start your application.
