CPA Tax Advisor Course

Trend Setter in Training · 12-08-2014 2:02pm #1

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback or experience in the CPA Tax Advisor Course (http://www.cpaireland.ie/cpe/ctax).

I'm an ACA qualified working in industry (indirect tax based) and was originally going to pursue the AITI exams but may struggle with workload over the next few years. I had also considered the Chartered Tax exams but the they are not running the course in Cork this year.

Any feedback / sharing of insights / knowledge of the course would be appreciated.

Thanks,

TSiT

Mr. Incognito · 13-08-2014 4:09pm

Don't know anything about it. The Irish Taxation Institute would be the standard in practice.

Trend Setter in Training · 14-08-2014 8:39am

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Don't know anything about it. The Irish Taxation Institute would be the standard in practice.

Appreciate the response. I understand that AITI would be standard in practice and the Chartered Tax exams trying to buy into that also with all those ACA qualified.

Would there be a norm (if different from AITI) in industry?

CPA accountancy exams are quite big in industry, especially with US multi-nationals so that's why I am contemplating the CPA Tax Advisor course.

Thanks,

TSiT

Mr. Incognito · 14-08-2014 9:44am

It depends- You work in Industry so it might be useful.

It's like all things. The ACA Exams are for those in Practice that need to advise everything from Mom and Pop stores to Multinationals. CPA is more suited to Industry.

A lot of that knowledge is pointless in Industry and thus the CPA are a more appropriate course.

If you work as a tax professional advising all sorts of clients then the AITI is a must. If you only want to beef up the CV and gain a basic understanding of the issues then it could be suitable.

I see the modules are
•Tax Issues of Employment Income
•VAT Essentials
•Corporation Tax – Essentials & Specific Advanced Issues
•Advanced Income Tax
•Revenue Interaction
•Further Aspects of Personal Tax
•Corporate Tax – Specialist Issues
•Succession Planning

The course is delivered in 8 modules, on Saturdays from September to end March. Each module will run from 9.00am to 4.00pm, will earn 6 hours CPE credit and consist of a lecture, scenario analysis, mini case studies etc.
To gain the qualification participants must complete an Assignment and final Exam. The assignment will consist of a written report of no more than 3500 words providing tax advice on particular issues which will have been covered in the course. The final exam will be held in April, and will consist of a three hour restricted open book exam

It is a certificate that seems to run through the basics. It certainly would not be what I would call a professional qualification and anyone that relying on this to give them anything more than a cursory knowledge could spend their money elsewhere.

I would say its the equivalent of the part 2 in the Irish Taxation exams perhaps but without knowing the details of the modules that's a guess.

I wouldn't trust anyone with it to give high level tax advice. That's for sure. But if you work in VAT in Industry why would you need in depth knowledge of other tax heads

Trend Setter in Training · 14-08-2014 9:59am

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

It depends- You work in Industry so it might be useful.

It's like all things. The ACA Exams are for those in Practice that need to advise everything from Mom and Pop stores to Multinationals. CPA is more suited to Industry.

A lot of that knowledge is pointless in Industry and thus the CPA are a more appropriate course.

If you work as a tax professional advising all sorts of clients then the AITI is a must. If you only want to beef up the CV and gain a basic understanding of the issues then it could be suitable.

I see the modules are
•Tax Issues of Employment Income
•VAT Essentials
•Corporation Tax – Essentials & Specific Advanced Issues
•Advanced Income Tax
•Revenue Interaction
•Further Aspects of Personal Tax
•Corporate Tax – Specialist Issues
•Succession Planning

The course is delivered in 8 modules, on Saturdays from September to end March. Each module will run from 9.00am to 4.00pm, will earn 6 hours CPE credit and consist of a lecture, scenario analysis, mini case studies etc.
To gain the qualification participants must complete an Assignment and final Exam. The assignment will consist of a written report of no more than 3500 words providing tax advice on particular issues which will have been covered in the course. The final exam will be held in April, and will consist of a three hour restricted open book exam

It is a certificate that seems to run through the basics. It certainly would not be what I would call a professional qualification and anyone that relying on this to give them anything more than a cursory knowledge could spend their money elsewhere.

I would say its the equivalent of the part 2 in the Irish Taxation exams perhaps but without knowing the details of the modules that's a guess.

I wouldn't trust anyone with it to give high level tax advice. That's for sure. But if you work in VAT in Industry why would you need in depth knowledge of other tax heads

Thanks Mr. Incognito - very much appreciate your valuable input.

Your thoughts are aligned to what I was thinking, if work agree to pay I may persue in advance of doing AITI in a year / two time.

Thanks

mozattack · 14-08-2014 12:35pm

I am ACCA and AITI and I did both purely for recognition so whats the point in taking on a "lesser" course... just seems pointless. It is like half painting a room.

A snob could say the same applies to CPA etc as ACCA, ACA and CIMA > CPA & others.

Jimmybean · 14-08-2014 3:16pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

It depends- You work in Industry so it might be useful.

It's like all things. The ACA Exams are for those in Practice that need to advise everything from Mom and Pop stores to Multinationals. CPA is more suited to Industry.

A lot of that knowledge is pointless in Industry and thus the CPA are a more appropriate course.

If you work as a tax professional advising all sorts of clients then the AITI is a must. If you only want to beef up the CV and gain a basic understanding of the issues then it could be suitable.

I see the modules are
•Tax Issues of Employment Income
•VAT Essentials
•Corporation Tax – Essentials & Specific Advanced Issues
•Advanced Income Tax
•Revenue Interaction
•Further Aspects of Personal Tax
•Corporate Tax – Specialist Issues
•Succession Planning

The course is delivered in 8 modules, on Saturdays from September to end March. Each module will run from 9.00am to 4.00pm, will earn 6 hours CPE credit and consist of a lecture, scenario analysis, mini case studies etc.
To gain the qualification participants must complete an Assignment and final Exam. The assignment will consist of a written report of no more than 3500 words providing tax advice on particular issues which will have been covered in the course. The final exam will be held in April, and will consist of a three hour restricted open book exam

It is a certificate that seems to run through the basics. It certainly would not be what I would call a professional qualification and anyone that relying on this to give them anything more than a cursory knowledge could spend their money elsewhere.

I would say its the equivalent of the part 2 in the Irish Taxation exams perhaps but without knowing the details of the modules that's a guess.

I wouldn't trust anyone with it to give high level tax advice. That's for sure. But if you work in VAT in Industry why would you need in depth knowledge of other tax heads

Having done the course, let me assure you it is very tough indeed. And it is also the only professional tax course which also carries an academic accreditation - at Level 8. There is a link with Griffith College

Trend Setter in Training · 14-08-2014 3:30pm

Jimmybean wrote: »

Having done the course, let me assure you it is very tough indeed. And it is also the only professional tax course which also carries an academic accreditation - at Level 8. There is a link with Griffith College

Hi Jimmybean,

Thanks for your comments. When did you do the course if you mind me asking? What accountancy exams had you done before as I note there is a requirement to have a professional accountancy qualification in order to participate in the course.

What are the standard of the lecturers / notes / guidance provided or is it more pointed to self thought and group style case study learnings?

Have you used the accreditation while seeking a job etc?

Apologies for all the questions... If you would prefer I can PM you.

Thanks,

TSiT

barneystinson · 14-08-2014 3:50pm

Jimmybean wrote: »

Having done the course, let me assure you it is very tough indeed. And it is also the only professional tax course which also carries an academic accreditation - at Level 8. There is a link with Griffith College

Unless you've also done the AITI you don't really have a valid comparison though...

Jimmybean · 14-08-2014 4:21pm

Trend Setter in Training wrote: »

Hi Jimmybean,

Thanks for your comments. When did you do the course if you mind me asking? What accountancy exams had you done before as I note there is a requirement to have a professional accountancy qualification in order to participate in the course.

What are the standard of the lecturers / notes / guidance provided or is it more pointed to self thought and group style case study learnings?

Have you used the accreditation while seeking a job etc?

Apologies for all the questions... If you would prefer I can PM you.

Thanks,

TSiT

2 years ago. I qualifed some 10 years ago. Most of the lecturers were very very good and the one was passable. Notes are good. Not much group interactivity altho groups tended to form naturally. Its 8 full Saturdays (tough going) and an assignemnt (case study) you have to do over about 4 months plus an exam. I think they've added webinars since then. Its broadly confined to qualified accountnats as they dont want novices holding up classes etc but I think you can get in if you show that you are a lawyer or some sort of professional who basically understands the basics of tax before they start. A few people in my class already had the AITI qualification but they did it to refresh, as you need to do in tax. I didnt need the accreditation (thankfully) - i needed the knowledge to keep up to speed.

But dont try it if you dont know tax (even if they let you in, which i doubt).

Its a bit unusual in that there are effectively 2 "qualifications". It is run by CPA but Griffith College have oversight on it (and they deal with all the assignments & exams). It has a formal name from Griffith "Certificate in advanced taxation planning" or something like that. Passing the exam gives you that cert which is a recognised academic award - Level 8 (which is bachelors degree level) and - I think, from memory - 15 ETS credits (whatever that means!). Also on passing the exam the the CPA gives you a Certified Tax Advisor award.

Hope that helps.

Jimmybean · 14-08-2014 4:22pm

barneystinson wrote: »

Unless you've also done the AITI you don't really have a valid comparison though...

As it happens, I did. Quite some time back. But with tax you cant let go!!

barneystinson · 14-08-2014 4:45pm

Jimmybean wrote: »

As it happens, I did. Quite some time back. But with tax you cant let go!!

Fair enough so, but...

You're mental!

Ever heard of CPD?!

Jimmybean · 14-08-2014 7:49pm

barneystinson wrote: »

Fair enough so, but...

You're mental!

Ever heard of CPD?!

Yes I did! And this is CPD.

But I find normal CPD to be bitty, whereas this is structured, forces you to absorb the knowledge, and tests that you know it.

And tax has changed, big time, as you may know.

Trend Setter in Training · 15-08-2014 7:13am

Thanks again Jimmybean, very informative.

katietipp91210 · 05-02-2017 10:16pm

Jimmybean wrote: »

Yes I did! And this is CPD.

But I find normal CPD to be bitty, whereas this is structured, forces you to absorb the knowledge, and tests that you know it.

And tax has changed, big time, as you may know.

Would you think the CPA Ctax is the same level as part 2 AITI or the same level / above / below the AITI ? Just wondering....am an ACCA accountant myself trying to decide what course to do.

Jimmybean · 10-02-2017 1:04pm

Hi Katie

Its a bit like comparing apples and oranges really. The AITI course, as I understand it is a course which starts from scratch so if you dont know any tax you can do it. It is a much more comprehensive course than the CTax. The AITI course lasts (I think ) 3 years. The CTax runs through one academic year, and you cant get on it unless you are an accountant - its more of a top up on accountants existing knowledge.

One difference is that the CTax course is also a course provided by Griffith college (same course but with 2 certs) The Griffith cert is something like cert in adavnced tax planning or somethin like that.

However the CTax/Griffith course is recognised at Level 8 QQI. (I thinks it the griffith connection that gets that). As far as I know the AITI has no recognition at any level. (Wont stop them telling you its at a particular level though!!)

Hope this helps

CPA Tax Advisor Course

Comments