Many organisations hire tax professionals - the scope of tax careers for those with relevant qualifications is wide.
Tax specialists regularly move between professional firms, commerce and industry, the legal profession, the Inland Revenue and other government departments.
The CIOT is the senior professional body in the United Kingdom, concerned solely with all aspects of taxation. Its membership encompasses professions and occupations in industry, commerce, the public sector and specialist taxation authorities.
The institute has more than 14,000 members, many of whom also have other qualifications. Membership is made up of Associates (CTA) and Fellows (FTII).
Before sitting the CTA examination you must have registered and obtained a Certificate of Eligibility which is granted to people who have passed the final examination of, or the qualifying examination for:
The same applies to those who have passed the Inland Revenue's FT2 or CPT examinations, those with at least three years' relevant experience with HM Customs and Excise, those with a university degree in taxation from an Institute-approved course.
Exams are held each May and November. The syllabus is structured into four papers:
Some exemptions can be granted for some papers for candidates who have passed certain IR exams. For further details contact the institute directly.
A referral is allowed in one paper for those who have sat the full examination. After passing the examinations, admission as an Associate Member (CTA) will also require proof of three years' professional work experience.
The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) was established in 1989, under the sponsorship of the CIT, in response to increasing demand for tax services and the development of tax practice as a professional activity in its own right.
Membership has increased rapidly in recent years, and now numbers over 9000, including students and affiliates.The Association provides the qualification 'Taxation Technician', signified by the letters ATT after the names of its members.Many taxation technicians work for the Inland Revenue or HM Customs & Excise, as well as other areas of government. However, there are also many working in the private sector in professional offices, commerce and industry and in the financial services arena.
Taxation technicians must understand the complexities of tax legislation in order to explain it in lay terms to individuals and companies; they can get involved in compliance work such as the preparation of tax returns, corporate tax computations, preparing VAT returns, PAYE tax and answering other tax queries.
To register as a student of the ATT, you must be at least 16 years old and have completed certain minimum educational requirements. There are a range of ways to do this, so it is best to contact the association directly for detailed information.
Other requirements include the possession of professional indemnity insurance and a commitment to undertake continuing professional development to keep their knowledge up to date.
ATT examinations are held in May and November. The examinations now follow a more flexible structure, offering greater choice and the opportunity to specialise in various areas of taxation.
There are seven freestanding Certificates of Competency:
In order to become a member of the ATT, candidates must hold at least four Certificates of Competency. In addition to this, they must have at least two year’s practical experience within the UK along with sponsors who will attest to their suitability for membership.
It is worth noting also that, by achieving membership you become eligible for enrolment as a student at the Chartered Institute of Taxation. For further details, see the CIT prospectus.
Many accountancy and law degrees offer at least one module in taxation as part of the degree program. Some economics degrees also cover government tax policy.
Bournemouth University, for example, offers a BA (Hons) in Law and Taxation which includes extensive analysis of the subject. Successful graduates are granted a certificate of Eligibility to sit the CIT's CTA examinations.
For more information, please visit www.att.org.uk.