Tax Research

Accounting 555

Fall, 2004

Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Larry Tunnell

Office: BC 339

Telephone: 646-4904 (Acct Dept. - 646-4901)

Office Hrs.: MW 9-11:30

(or any time by appointment)

email:

Required Text: Raabe, Whittenburg, Bost and Sanders, West's Federal Tax Research, Sixth Edition, (2003)

Course Objectives:

1. Enable the student to identify tax situations, isolate the tax issues, search the relevant sources for the "correct" tax treatment (if one exists), and develop the appropriate support for the position they take.

2. Develop the skills of the student to communicate their findings to clients, co-workers, and superiors.

3. Familiarize the student with IRS practice and procedure.

4. Familiarize the student with contemporary tax practice.

5. Enable the student to evaluate relevant statutory authority.

6. Enable the student to find and evaluate the relevant judicial authority.

7. Enable the student to identify and evaluate the relevant administrative authority.

8. Familiarize the student with the fundamentals of tax planning.

9. Familiarize the student with payroll taxes.

10. Familiarize the student with New Mexico state taxes.

ASSIGNMENTS: Written and reading assignments will be assigned at each class meeting for the next class meeting. Reading assignments must be completed prior to coming to class. You should be prepared to discuss these readings on the day they are due. The written assignments must be turned in at the end of class on the dates due. Students will be called on in class to read their research memos or give the answers they obtained on the homework assignments. You will be penalized 15% of the points applicable, per day, on any assignments turned in late. Late assignments will be accepted up to one week late, but only if we don't go over the assignment in class on the due date.

Neatness, organization, and correctness will be considered in grading your assignments. All research assignments must be typed, except for those done in class. The answers to the homework problems assigned may be written (pencil is ok).

EXAMINATIONS: Students are expected to take the exams at the regularly scheduled times. Programmable calculators are not allowed during exams.

GRADING POLICY: First exam 25%

Final exam 25%

Class Participation 5%

Homework 5%

Cases/In-class projects 40%

Maximum Grading Scale: 90% & above: A; 80-89%: B; 70-79%: C; 60-69%: D; 0-60%: F.

ATTENDANCE: Since this class only meets once a week, it is very important that you attend each class. Two absences are allowed, but you will have your grade reduced by 5%(out of 100%) for each absence after the first two.

OFFICE HOURS: My office hours are given above, but I am here most days during working hours. Feel free to call or come by at any time if you have a question or need help. You can also email me at the address above, and if I am here I usually answer immediately. If you email me on WebCt, it will take much longer since I don’t check that email as often.

HONESTY POLICY: Unless otherwise stated by me, all assignments prepared inside and outside class and all exams are to be completed by you alone without help from anyone. It is your responsibility not only to abstain from cheating, but also to avoid the appearance of cheating and to guard against making it possible for others to do so. Since most of the grading will be done on a comparative basis, it is also in your best interest not to help another student cheat. Any student who helps another student to cheat is as guilty as the student he or she assists. Both (or all) will be dealt with severely.

INCOMPLETES: A grade of I (Incomplete) will be given only in accordance with the requirements set forth on page 15 of the Graduate Catalog. Basically this requires that the I be assigned only due to an event beyond the student's control that occurred after the last withdrawal date.

DISABILITIES: If you have a disability that requires me to make any special arrangements, please let me know at the beginning of the semester.

IMPORTANT DATES:

AUG 24 (T) - Classes start

SEPT 1 (W) - Deadline for registration/course addition

SEPT 6 (M) – LABOR DAY holiday

OCT 15 (F) - Last day to drop with a "W"

NOV 15 (M) - Last day to withdraw from the University

NOV 24-26 (W-F) - THANKSGIVING

DEC 6-10 (M-F) - Exam Week

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Month / Date / Chapter
Aug. / 25 / First Day
Sept. / 1 / 1&2
8 / 3, 4
15 / 5, 6
22 / 7, 8
29 / 9, Review
Oct. / 6 / Mid-term Exam
13 / 10,11
15 / Last day to drop with a “W”
20 / 12
27 / 13
Nov. / 3 / Payroll Taxes
10 / State Taxes
15 / Last day to withdraw from the University
17 / State Taxes
24 / Thanksgiving Holiday
1 / State taxes
Dec. / 6 / Monday, 6:00 p.m. - Final Exam