Welcome to Master of Taxation

Quite simply, the career opportunities as a tax professional are great. The demand for such professionals is increasing, the program has partnered with the experts in the field, and the work is challenging, diverse and stimulating - "It doesn't get much better than this."

You will have the opportunity to:

• enter an attractive career path-at a level above the entry level.
• enter this field without first having to complete the requirements of a professional accounting designation.
• be employed in a tax practice during the co-op terms and on graduation.
• learn from high-level tax practitioners and academics.
• develop skills in reading tax legislation, researching tax issues and writing clearly and effectively.
• gain an understanding of many tax and non-tax issues involved in business decisions.

Students come to the program from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds. Some may have a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, a Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, or perhaps a business, legal or technical degree prior to entering the program. Some may have prior accounting or tax-related work experience. We strive to maintain diversity in our program because we believe it adds to the value of the educational experience for all students.

That being said, having a professional designation is not necessary. Many of our students enter the program directly from their undergraduate business program, complete the MTax degree and then may decide to complete a professional designation while in their new role subsequent to earning the MTax degree. Employers often support and accommodate a path of this nature.

Alternatively, many very successful graduates opt to focus on using their degree to pursue exciting and fulfilling careers, without pursing additional professional designations.

The MTax degree opens doors to a wide-breadth of career paths unique to your personal interests.

You can enter the program with one of the following:

• an honours undergraduate degree in economics, business, or technical fields such as computer science or math.
• a Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified General Accountant (CGA) designation, along with an honours undergraduate degree, or
• a law degree.

No, we do not guarantee jobs during the co-op terms or on graduation.  Variables beyond our control, such as the current job market and student-employer interview dynamics, make guarantees impossible.  We do, however, have a well-established process for helping our students secure employment.  For example, each year, new full-time students who’ll be applying for co-op term positions participate in our professional development workshop - Best Foot Forward - designed to prepare new tax professionals for the recruiting cycle.  We have a wonderful long-term track record of success with 100 percent employment for co-op term positions for many years.

Students who live in and around the GTA commonly commute to classes held at the MTax learning centre in downtown Toronto.

If you have applied for admission and the MTax Admissions Committee concludes that you need additional preparation in Canadian tax law, you will be required to enroll in the program’s pre-admission course.  You MUST pass the pre-admission course under the terms and conditions set out in your conditional offer of admission in order to proceed into the program.

The part-time study option involves consecutive academic terms over a two to four years. The full-time study option is comprised of three academic terms with two co-op terms interspersed between the study terms, over a 20-month period. Co-op terms are not offered for part-time students because they are already employed in tax-related activities.

Yes. Increasingly, firms are looking to non-traditional sources for future tax professionals. There are partners in these firms who are not professional accountants, and it is expected that this trend will continue.

The type of work students undertake while on a co-op term varies depending on the individual’s background and the opportunities available in their employer’s office at that time. A survey of our students indicates work is quite varied depending on the position and employer. Examples of the types of tax-related activities our students do on their co-op terms include preparing tax provisions, researching a complex issue, preparing a planning memo that involves a section 85 tax-free rollover, corporate tax returns for multi-nationals and interacting with the CRA on a tax matter.

No, during co-op terms and upon graduation you can work for any employer you choose. In fact, working during co-op terms is not even required to graduate.

MTax course activities involve a substantial level of problem-based learning which includes technical and client-focused memo writing emphasizing written communication skills. As well, many course activities included presentations demonstrating advisory capabilities. Students gain valuable communication skills through the high emphasis on development of those abilities in all courses.

No. We want you to graduate as a tax adviser, not as a tax technician. This distinction is the difference between someone who can only do technical research and someone who can deal with the client, making tax recommendations and integrating them with other factors into an effective overall plan.

The program offers significant technical content but also emphasizes skill development. Considerable time will also be spent on the non-tax issues that must be considered in developing a comprehensive plan that will accomplish the client's objectives and, at the same time, minimize tax.

As a graduate student in Ontario, you will have full access to the libraries of all Ontario universities. Access to the Canadian Tax Foundation library is also available. In addition, students have access to an extensive array of professional research material.

Learning outcomes are accomplished through the use of problems, simulations, and case-based activities that mirror real-life scenarios.

The program has developed a Learning Model designed to foster the development of unique strengths and qualities that distinctly position our graduates as highly valued professionals in the Canadian tax community. Graduates have not only the academic and practical experience needed to succeed, but also the communication abilities, professionalism and know-how needed to embark on thriving careers.

Contact Kirsten Muirhead with queries about the information provided.