Taxation of Business Structures
UndergraduateCUR-TAXA30032025
Previously CUR-BLW39
Course information for 2025 intake
Learn how to plan tax structures for taxpayers over short and long-term periods. You’ll come to understand different business entities and how each is taxed, plus the pros and cons of each in the planning process.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 25 May 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 2 June 2025
- Price from
- $2,244
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Taxation of Business Structures
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- recognise the different types of business structures used for business activities in Australia and identify the differences in how the taxation laws/legislation are applied to them
- demonstrate a knowledge of the lifecycle of businesses from its creation to when it is ultimately closed down taking into account all the relevant laws that may apply during this lifecycle
- compare different methods of financing opportunities available to businesses and the taxation consequences of using these forms of debt or equity
- critique the anti avoidance provisions contained within the Taxation Legislation and the behaviours of taxpayers in attempting to avoid their taxation obligations
- Introduction of Entities
- Small Business Concessions
- Sole Traders
- Partnerships
- Trusts
- Companies
- Diverting Income
- Financing a Business
- Employer Costs
This subject was previously known as Tax Structures.
Taxpayers in business often have a choice to which business entity they will use to run their business operations through, there are several choices available to them including sole trader, partnerships, trusts and companies and with all of them come different tax issues and decisions that need to be made. You will be exposed into looking at complex taxation matters surrounding these entities such as Division 7A and the recently debated Sec 100A which has been contentious, as well as Small Business Concessions and Capital Gains Tax Concessions which all tax professional must have an understanding of. Cryptocurrency and crowd funding are new forms of financing businesses and we look at the tax consequences associated with them along with more traditional forms of financing, we use an expert tax professional in the area of crypto to help you with these concepts. You will also have a mentor from a Big 4 practice to work with in relation to your business project in this course. Tax avoidance and evasion are the dark side to taxation and participation in them can lead to large fines and incarceration so we will spend some time looking at the laws surrounding the anti- avoidance legislation and examine some high profile cases that have seen the ATO and taxpayers in battle. Business structuring and ensuring taxpayers are abiding by the rules is a large part of all tax professionals work whether in a commerce role or a law role ... also remember that a career within the government is also available
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Group Research and Video Presentation (30%)
- Business Proposal (40%)
- Research Essay (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
CUR-BLW32-Introduction to Australian Tax Law (no longer available)
CUR-BLW38-Indirect, State and Employment Taxes (no longer available)
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
CUR-BLW39-Taxation of Business Structures (no longer available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Commerce (Taxation)
UndergraduateCUR-TAX-DEG
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