Course Dates and Times:  TBA

Course Location:  TBA

Credits:  3

Lecture Contact Hours per 16 week semester: 3

HOW TO REACH THE INSTRUCTOR

Instructor: Kristy McDermott (Johnson), CPA, Associate Professor

E-Mail: kmcdermo@austincc.edu (preferred method of contact)

Office Location: Virtual Classroom in Blackboard

Office Hours:    TBA

COURSE DESCRIPTION                                     

This course includes basic instruction in the tax laws as currently implemented by the Internal Revenue Service, providing working knowledge of applying and interpreting federal tax law for individuals, C corporations, S corporations, and partnerships.

Prerequisites: Before enrolling in ACNT 1374, you must have completed ACCT 2301 or ACNT 1403 with a C or better grade. Basic computer skills utilizing internet, word processing, spreadsheet (Excel), and presentation (Power Point) software are recommended for all accounting courses. If you have any questions, consult with an accounting advisor.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY

Blackboard: You will access all course content through Blackboard. If you have not previously taken a course utilizing Blackboard, you will find a link to the login procedures on the Blackboard login page: http://acconline.austincc.edu. Otherwise, the login username and password you previously used will still work.  You must have an activated ACC eID number to log into blackboard. For information on how to activate your ACC eID please refer to http://www.austincc.edu/acceid/. 

Lab Activities: See instructor syllabus.

Homework:  Homework will be completed using McGraw-Hill Connect. Information about Connect will be provided in the blackboard course. All students are expected to complete homework when assigned.

Chapter Quizzes:  See instructor syllabus.

Exams:  All exams must be proctored. See instructor syllabus.

Extra Credit: See instructor syllabus.

Missed or Late Work: See instructor syllabus.

Where to go if you have questions: See instructor syllabus.

Where to go if you have complaints: You may review the complaint and grievance policy online: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/policies2.php. Please attempt to resolve the complaint immediately with me directly. If the complaint cannot be resolved, then my immediate supervisor is the Accounting Faculty Department Chair, Dr. Larry Stephens.

GRADING SYSTEM

Basis for Grading:

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK/MATERIALS

McGraw-Hill’s  Essentials of Federal Taxation 2025 Edition, 16e, (with Connect 18-month Printed Access Code).  Spilker/Ayers/Barrick/Lewis/Robinson/Weaver/Worsham. 

Your Connect access has been included in your tuition payment for the course.  There is no code necessary to register for Connect with the First Day Access Program.  If you are asked for payment or a code when registering for Connect through Blackboard, please notify your instructor immediately and select the “Courtesy Access” option.  If you would like a loose-leaf, print version of the textbook (Connect comes with the full e-book), they are available for around $27.00 at the ACC Bookstore.

Student Registration Instructions:  https://vimeo.com/281883800

Computer hardware and software requirements: This course will utilize Blackboard. This course requires that you have high-speed internet access. You must be able to view audio and video files in flash. Your computer will need to have a sound-card or speakers. You must have access to Adobe Reader. You must have access to Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. During the semester you may also use the following software: ProConnect Tax Online. Instructions about how to access this FREE software will be provided in Blackboard.

ACC provides Microsoft Office365 at no charge to students. Office365 is a line of subscription software and services offered by Microsoft. The suite includes applications such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other Microsoft Office applications and services. For information on how to access Office365 visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office

Technology support services: Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Course Rationale: The goals and objectives of this course prepare students for (1) completing degree requirements; (2) obtaining or improving job skills; (3) qualifying for a business or accounting job; (4) working as an entrepreneur; (5) fulfilling personal goals; and/or (6) understanding the federal income tax law.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify the determinants of taxable income and the statutory exclusions that are permitted,
2. Become familiar with the deduction component of the basic tax model,
3. Learn various other components that relate to the theme of tax liability determination,
4. Understand the purposes of the Federal tax law and the legislative, administrative, and judicial sources of Federal tax law,
5. Understand basic corporate tax law, and
6. Understand basic flow-through entities.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

SCANS (Secretary’s Commission on achieving necessary skills): Please go to http://www.austincc.edu/mgmt/scans.php for complete definitions and explanation of SCANS.  Many of the SCANS listed on this site apply to this course including manages money, participates as a member of a team, serves clients/customers, acquires and evaluates information, organizes and maintains information, uses computers to process information, applies technology to task, arithmetic, mathematics, decision making, problem solving, and reasoning.

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy: Austin Community College has received the designation of Qualifying Educational Credit for CPA Examination by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (Board).  To sit for the CPA exam, a candidate must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree with 150 credit hours (a master's degree is not required). The candidate must have at least 36 total hours of accounting (30 hours above the principles courses) and 24 total hours of business courses (effective February 2008). In addition, effective July 1, 2005, candidates must complete three hours of accounting ethics. Two semester hours are required in accounting research and analysis.  The semester hours may be included in the 30 semester hour accounting requirement. This course qualifies as one of the 30 required upper-level accounting courses, however for this course to be counted, the student MUST have completed a bachelor's degree PRIOR to taking this course. If this course is completed before a bachelor's degree is awarded, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy will not accept it.  Please review the information on our web site http://www.austincc.edu/accting/cpainfo.php. It is the responsibility of the student to understand and comply with the requirements of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

It is very important that you enroll in the Professional Accountant - Advanced Technical Certificate and that you see an advisor at the start of your program. Please be aware of enforcement of prerequisites. If you do not have the necessary prerequisites for this course, I will withdraw you from the course.

HB1508 Statement: To become a CPA in Texas, the Board has a statutory obligation (Section 901.253) to determine that any person awarded a Texas CPA certificate is of good moral character.

Good moral character is demonstrated by the lack of a history of dishonest or felonious acts. The Board considers several areas in evaluating an applicant's moral character. These include

• Responses to questions on the application relating to arrests, charges, convictions, probations and/or deferred adjudications of a felony or misdemeanor other than misdemeanor driving offenses such as moving violations (NOTE: DWIs are not considered misdemeanor driving offenses).
• The Board will access the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) database and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Crime Records Division files using an established fingerprint process for each person who submits an Application of Intent. The fingerprint process allows the Board to receive information on all arrests, charges, convictions, probations and deferred adjudications of misdemeanor and felony offenses that occur in any U.S. state or territory. Records of these activities are reported to the Board for further investigation. If an applicant was 17 years of age or older at the time of the arrest, it should be reported to the Board. You are not required to report criminal records that have been expunged or sealed by an order of the court. You are required to report criminal records subject to a non-disclosure order.  Any subsequent arrest will automatically be reported to the Board for further investigation.

Attendance/Participation: See instructor syllabus.

Withdrawal: It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date (XXXX). The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.

Incomplete: An instructor may award a grade of “I” (incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An “I” cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

It is the Accounting department’s policy that incomplete grades are given only on rare occasions and generally, only when a student has completed all examinations and assignments to date, with a satisfactory grade of C or better, and has personal circumstances that prevent course completion that occur after the deadline to withdraw.

Per Austin Community College:

An incomplete (grade of "I") will only be given for extenuating circumstances.  What constitutes “extenuating circumstances” is left to the instructor’s discretion.  If a grade of I is given, the remaining course work must be completed by a date set by the student and professor.  This date may not be later than two weeks prior to the end of the following semester.  A grade of I also requires completion and submission of the Incomplete Grade form, to be signed by the faculty member (and student if possible) and submitted to the department chair.

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant.  The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not.  The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an I grade. 

1.      Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date.  This meeting can occur virtually or in person.  The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

2.      The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student.  The student will then complete his/her section, sign (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement.  A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.   

3.      The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above.  This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent long semester.  

4.      Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course section materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.  

5.      When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit an electronic Grade Change Form to change the student’s performance grade from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F. 

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F.”  Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.”

Statement on Academic Integrity: Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process.  Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources.  Further information is available at https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process

Student Accessibility Services: Students with documented disabilities who need classroom, academic, or other accommodations must request them through the office Student Accessibility Services (SAS).   SAS offices are located at each major campus.  Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester; otherwise, the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the document titled “Notice of Approved Accommodations” from SAS before accommodations will be provided.  Accommodations will not be provided retroactively.  Arrangements by the instructor for academic accommodations can only be made after he or she receives the “Notice of Approved Accommodations” from the student. Additional information about Student Accessibility Services is available at https://www.austincc.edu/offices/student-accessibility-services-and-assistive-technology

Review the additional college policies document posted on the Blackboard website for college policies that apply to this course.

The TSBPA (Texas State Board of Public Accountants) have asked us to inform students of the following regarding how to identify yourself when working in the accounting field but do not have a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license in Texas:

Q: Can I refer to myself as a CPA, accountant, and/or auditor, or any other variation of these titles?

You can only refer to yourself as a CPA, accountant or auditor if you are a licensed CPA in the state of Texas. See Section 901.453 of The Public Accountancy Act.

Q: Can I refer to myself as a specialist in a specific area (such as tax or accounting)?

A CPA should avoid the use of terms such as “specialist”. Although the Board has the authority to recognize specializations in the practice of public accounting, it currently does not do so. See Section 901.157 of The Public Accountancy Act.

Q: If I am not a CPA, how should I refer to myself?

In your bio, you should state the degree and/or certificate you received from Austin Community College. For example, “I received an Accounting Specialist degree from Austin Community College in 2019.” You should not refer to yourself as an accountant or auditor if you are not a licensed CPA in the state of Texas.

Additional Information regarding the Accounting Department, faculty, your course program, and basic accounting tools/resources can be found at http://sites.austincc.edu/accounting/

Please note that schedule changes may occur during the semester.  Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement and emailed to your ACC email account.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE & ASSIGNMENTS