Student Spotlight: Finding a course that helped obtain my tax agent licence
This month we chatted to Raveena Paul, Accounting Supervisor, Cambooya Pty Ltd and Dux of CommLaw 3 Study Period 1 2022. She discusses the reasons why she chose the Tax Institute Higher Education to obtain her tax agent licence.
Please provide a brief background of your career in tax.
I am a Chartered Accountant with nine years of experience in accounting and tax, and I have a Bachelor of Business (Majoring in Accounting and Information Systems) from the University of Tasmania. After graduating, I worked in public practice at a chartered accounting firm called Malcolm Gray, specialising in tax advisory and compliance for SME’s, trusts and estates. Having had significant exposure to CGT transactions associated with business assets and property in the early years of my career, I have maintained a particular interest in property tax and law.
I moved to Sydney in 2019 and worked at a mid-tier firm for a year, before shifting away from public practice and taking up my current role at Cambooya as a supervisor. The Family Office space has given me the opportunity to broaden my experience and build on my knowledge of tax and finance. An extremely enriching and rewarding aspect of my role is providing financial services to not-for-profit organisations, most notably the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF).
Why did you choose to study with The Tax Institute Higher Education?
I heard about The Tax Institute a year after completing my CA when I searched online to find out more about the tax agent program. I chose to study with The Tax Institute Higher Education because I wanted to obtain my tax agent licence. Since it is the country’s leading professional tax association and provider of tax education, I was able to find a course that met the requirements for obtaining that licence.
Why did you decide to study our CommLaw 3 subject?
I studied Commercial Property Law (CommLaw3) because it formed part of the eligibility criteria for me to register as a tax agent with the TPB. This course is part of the Tax Agent program.
What skills and knowledge have you taken away from the CommLaw 3 subject?
I have gained a deeper knowledge of real and personal property transactions, as well as consumer, insurance, and finance law. For me, the most interesting part of the subject was studying intellectual property law, particularly copyright and trademarks, as I hadn’t studied this area of law prior to undertaking this course. Case law relating to artistic works was also extremely fascinating.
How did you juggle study, work and other commitments?
It’s important to set realistic expectations and goals that you can achieve. I did my best to stick to the module timetable which outlined the learning and activities for each week, along with revision guidelines. This meant that during the 11-week study period, I spent most of my weekends studying.
Closer to the exam, I spent most weeknights revising to ease the pressure of cramming it all in, one or two days before the exam. Having said that, my office was extremely supportive throughout the study period, which made it easier to juggle everything.
Where to now for you when it comes to continuing tax education?
When it comes to keeping up with key changes in the law, I find monthly tax updates extremely useful. The Tax Institute membership has provided me with an avenue to study and network, which may lead to further study in the future. As I progress in my career, I will consider undertaking the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) program.
What advice do you have for other tax professionals considering the Tax Agent Program?
If you are considering registering as a tax agent, the Tax Agent Program provides TPB-approved courses that will enable you to achieve this. The courses are entirely online and convened by subject matter experts. In my opinion, the best aspect of this course is that it is structured for learning at your own pace which fits in well with tax professionals that are working full-time.
If you want to meet the Tax Practitioners Board's qualifications requirement for tax agent registration, enrol in our Tax Agent Program. Our online and interactive subjects not only provide virtual classrooms and webinars to study remotely, but they also allow you to take your final assessment at a place that suits you best.
Approved by the Board, our program gives you the skills, knowledge and expertise you will need to succeed as a tax agent. Ready to continue your education in tax?