Certificate of Achievement in Tax Specialist

The Certificate of Achievement in Tax Specialist is designed for students to achieve the coursework necessary to provide a strong foundation in the skills necessary for a position in income tax preparation. All courses in this certificate meet the 150 semester hour education requirement for licensure in the state of California.

We estimate approximately 40 graduates a year. 

Course #	Course Title	Annual Sections (19/20)	Annual Enrollment (19/20)	Annual Sections (20/21)	AnnualEnrollment(20/21)
ACTG 1A	Financial Accounting I	29	1108	28	921
ACTG 60	Accounting for Small Business	8	395	8	326
ACTG 65	Payroll & Business Tax Accounting	6	246	55	213
ACTG 67	Tax Accounting	8	270	8	234
ACTG 68A	Advanced Tax Accounting I	1	54	1	55

Accounting programs prepare students for work as accountants, examining and preparing financial records for private industry, government agencies, individuals and non-profit entities. General accountants use computers to record transactions, such as receivables, payables, payroll, and property into a general ledger. Corporate accountants set up and design accounting systems and procedures, risk management programs, and analyze and evaluate financial records for businesses. Their duties include ensuring legal compliance, interpreting financial information, and preparing reports for business executives and government regulatory agencies. Advancement includes opportunities as senior accountant, controller, treasurer and chief financial officer. Certified Public Accountants and Certified Management Accountants are those who have attained professional certification by the state.

 

The academic goal of the Certificate of Achievement in Tax Specialist is to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. The vocational goal is to provide training for students to become marketable in the area of income tax preparation and to provide additional conceptual and technical training for those with some income tax preparation experience to provide additional opportunities for career advancement.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

·      Students will be able to understand the conceptual and standard setting for business and non-business entities

·      Students will be able to prepare and analyze general purpose for profit financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, statements of comprehensive income, statements of changes in equity and statements of cash flows

·      Students will be able to understand and analyze financial statement accounts, cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, inventory, property plant and equipment, investments, intangible assets, payables and accrued liabilities, long term debt, equity, revenue recognition, and income tax provisions

·      Students will be able to assess the tax consequences related to Federal and California individual income tax returns

·      Students will be able to prepare Federal and California income tax turns

·      Students will be able to identify basics of Federal and California income tax law as it relates to sole proprietors and partnerships

·      Students will be able to demonstrate practical knowledge of income tax preparation and tax compliance as these relate to sole proprietorships and partnerships

·      Students will be able to identify and explain payroll systems and control procedures

·      Students will be able to explain current payroll tax accounting rules and procedures

·      Students will be able to analyze, compute, and report payroll taxes

·      Students will be able to prepare and distribute payroll

·      Students will be able to prepare and process payroll transactions within current payroll regulations

 

Students will take 3 core courses and select between ACTG 1A or ACTG 60

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Required
ACTG 65	Payroll & Business Tax Accounting	4	Y1W
ACTG67	Tax Accounting	5	Y1F
ACTG 68A	Advanced Tax Accounting I	5	Y1 W
Select either one
Actg 1A	Financial Accounting 1	5	Y1F
ACTG 60	Accounting for Small Business	5	Y1F

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None at this time

In our immediate service area, College of San Mateo has a Certificate of Achievement in Individual Tax Professional. Outside of our service area, but still in California, Coastline Community Colleges has a Certificate of Achievement in Taxation and Santa Monica has a Certificate of Achievement in Small Business Tax Practice.