Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Programme Study Plan
Programme Code: SASKA
Programme Title: Master’s Degree Programme (one year) in Tax Law
ECTS Credits: 60
Approval: The programme study plan was approved by the Faculty Board of Arts and Social Sciences on 5 March 2014, and is effective from the autumn semester of 2014. It
replaces an earlier version which was approved on 9 April 2013.
Language of Instruction: Swedish Degree Level: Master’s Degree Type: General
Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 ECTS credits in Business Administration or Economics including Commercial Law, 15 ECTS credits and Taxation Law I, 15 ECTS credits or equivalent. Applicants with other qualifications can be admitted on other grounds. Upper Secondary Swedish course 3 or B or Swedish as a Second Language course 3 or B and English course 6 or A or equivalent.
General Information
The programme prepares students for work as a tax economist in the private sector as a tax consultant, for instance, or in the public sector as a tax official at the Swedish Tax Agency. It also prepares for further studies at Master’s level (second year) in the business administration specialization Accounting and Finance at Karlstad University and gives eligibility for doctoral studies.
Aims
Knowledge and understanding
To be awarded a Master’s degree of 60 ECTS credits (see the Higher Education Ordinance), the student should
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the field of fiscal law, including broad knowledge of the field as well as specialised knowledge in certain areas, and familiarity with current research and development work,
demonstrate advanced knowledge of methodology in the field of fiscal law.
Local aims of knowledge and understanding are specified in programme syllabi, which, for instance, state that students should be able to
demonstrate advanced knowledge of material fiscal law such as taxation of corporate groups and international taxation,
demonstrate knowledge of microeconomic theory and understand its application to taxation,
demonstrate advanced knowledge of legal procedures and tax lawsuits,
demonstrate advanced knowledge of the theory of science, general jurisprudence, tax ethics and tax morality,
demonstrate specialised knowledge of material law in the chosen area of the degree project.
Skills and abilities:
To be awarded a Master’s degree of 60 ECTS credits (see the Higher Education Ordinance), the student should be able to
integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and handle complex phenomena and situations even with limited information,
independently identify and formulate problems as well as plan and carry out qualified tasks using appropriate methods within given time-limits,
clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which these are based in dialogue with different groups orally and in writing, and
demonstrate the skills required to participate in research and development work or to perform other qualified tasks.
Local aims of skills and abilities are specified in programme syllabi, which, for instance, state that students should be able to
participate in tax revisions and other forms of tax investigations,
act as a representative of or as a party in an oral negotiation in a tax court,
author, defend and discuss an academic essay with a focus on the areas treated in the programme.
Judgement ability and approach
To be awarded a Master’s degree of 60 ECTS credits (see the Higher Education Ordinance), the student should be able to
make assessment in the fiscal field with due regard to relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects, and show awareness of the ethical aspects of research and development,
demonstrate awareness of the potentials and limitations of science, its role in society, and accountability for how it is used, and
identify their need for further knowledge and to assume responsibility for their own development.
Local aims of judgement ability and approach are specified in programme syllabi, which, for instance, state that students should be able to
demonstrate awareness of the ethical issues facing legislators and practitioners, and
understand and place the work of others in a wider theoretical perspective.
Programme Structure
Instruction is in the form of lectures and seminars. Mandatory role-play and PM writing are examination requirements. Students make study visits at public offices and companies throughout the programme. The second term combines theory and
methodology with practical training at a company or a public office. The Master programme 60 ECTS cr concludes with an independent degree project of 15 ECTS credits.
Programme Curriculum
The following courses are mandatory:
Term 1
Company Taxation, 15 ECTS credits
The course focuses on material tax problems such as conglomerate taxation and tax issues related to company restructuring, taxation of private companies and
general partnerships, value added tax and international taxation. The tax legal method and the link between tax law and civil and auditing law are included. The course is concluded with a written exam, including a group PM, which is presented and defended at a seminar.
International Taxation, 7.5 ECTS cr
The course focuses on international taxation, but builds on knowledge in the area of company taxation. In terms of this course, Swedish internal international taxation rights are treated regarding individual and company taxation as well as contract rights
taxation. The influence of EU law on Swedish taxation rights is discussed. Theory and
practice alternate in the form of lectures and exercises. Students apply their knowledge of international taxation to reading and interpreting tax agreements. Assessment is based on PM assignments which are presented and discussed in mandatory seminars and in a written exam.
Tax Procedures and Tax Proceedings, 7.5 ECTS credits
The main areas are tax procedures and processes primarily in cases pertaining to income tax, value added tax, employment tax and selective tax. The course deals with issues of authority and power, and tax investigation and revision. The roles of
consultants and public tax officials are discussed, as are the implications of taxation decisions, system of sanction, and different types of legal means, and issues of respite and execution. A course component deals with right-to access and secrecy legislation in the fiscal area. Students partake in a role-play that opens with an exchange of letters in which the students act in the roles of tax officials, tax consultants and tax payers. An exchange of letters between the Swedish Tax Agency and a tax payer is concluded with a court proceeding. Participation is mandatory and combined with a written assignment it is part of the course examination.
Term 2
Theory, Method, and Project, 15 ECTS credits The course is divided into two modules:
Module 1. Theory and Method, 10 ECTS credits
The module includes general theory of science and general legal methodology, especially of fiscal law, as well as ethical and moral issues. Students are expected to acquire skills and abilities to carry out independent critical analysis and to investigate problems related to the programme. A written exam concludes the module.
Examination also includes a PM in which students analyse an article on fiscal law and present and defend it at a seminar.
Module 2. Project, 5 ECTS credits
Students are required to carry out an investigation of relevance to the programme at a company or a public agency. This investigation can form the basis of the subsequent degree project.
Tax Law: Degree Project, 15 ECTS credits
Students carry out a research project in a chosen specialisation area. The project must be empirically based and centre on a problem of relevance to programme content, thus reflecting the scope and area of Master’s Degree.
Degree Title
Degree of Master of Science (60 ECTS cr) Major: Tax Law
Grades
One of the grades Fail, Pass, or Distinction is used in the examination of each completed course in the programme.
Credit Transfer
According to the Higher Education Ordinance (Ch. 6, § 12-14), students may transfer credits from previously completed university courses subject to approval. Transfer of credits for a full course, or other credits, is subject to approval by the Rector. Transfer of credits from a course module is subject to approval by the course examiner.
Additional Information
The local regulations for undergraduate studies at Karlstad University stipulate the obligations and rights of students and staff.
