This tax policy seminar is open to students who are enrolled in the “tax stream” as well as students who are interested in exploring a tax issue at a deeper level. It serves as the capstone course for the Tax Law Program.
The seminar is designed to help students bring together the knowledge and skills they have developed in tax and related courses and discuss foundational principles (e.g., the ability to pay principle underlying progressive income tax and taxing each corporation as a separate person), concepts (e.g., income versus capital; debt versus equity), rules (e.g., the GAAR) and policies (e.g., using tax instruments to advance industrial or environmental objectives) in specific scenarios or fact patterns. The goal is to help students further develop their critical thinking, writing and problem solving skills so that they are more “practice ready”.
Seminar materials include classic tax readings, current topics, leading cases. The last module uses GAAR cases to illustrate how tax policies, tax law drafting, tax planning and tax litigation intersect in a given factual situation.
Students are expected to be engaged and active learners.
Method of Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on the basis of a class attendance (5%), active participation by leading discussions or being interlocutors in designated classes (10%) and presentation of draft written work (5%), and written work in the form of a research essay or professional memorandum 80%.