Graduate Certificate in Taxation

Boost Your Career Expertise With a Tax Certification

Considering a career switch to the dynamic, high-demand field of taxation? Looking to increase your accounting and data analytics knowledge base?

Add a Graduate Certificate in Taxation from Michigan State University to fulfill your career potential and watch your opportunities grow.

Our tax certifications enhance every business and accounting professional’s skill set, including those interested in a career as a tax specialist and those seeking to further their understanding of accounting for income taxes. MSU will prepare you with the tax specialist certification needed to take your career — and professional credentials — to the next level.

Online

Complete in 12–20 months

12 credits

4 seven-week courses

Flexible

Asynchronous with optional synchronous interactions

Created for Professionals Like You Seeking Tax Specialist Certification

Our online graduate Taxation certificate opens a world of opportunity for accounting and data analytics professionals who want to explore the constantly evolving tax landscape.

As you take tax certificate courses, you’ll develop an understanding of the principles of tax and tax planning and hone your skills to adapt to continual changes in the tax law and profession.

You’ll be equipped with the cutting-edge skills necessary — including data analysis and automation in tax planning and compliance — to succeed in a tax-focused career in all types of businesses and corporations or at the state, federal or international levels.

Curriculum for the Online Taxation Certificate (12 credits)

With a world-class reputation, coursework that translates to real-world applications and the flexibility to take courses around your schedule, our tax certification program offers everything you need to boost your professional expertise. You’ll study the principles that determine the amount, timing and location of tax payments. You’ll also gain specialized knowledge of tax rules to ensure transactions are handled in the most tax-efficient way possible — a skill that every employer values.

Students are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all courses in the certificate and a minimum 2.0 grade-point average in each course for the course to count towards the certificate program.

Students must complete the following courses:

ACC 830 Tax Research (Spring Semester)

3 CREDITS

Case studies focused on online tax research techniques. Emphasis on effectively organizing and presenting research results.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 833 Federal Income Tax of Corporations and Shareholders (Spring Semester)

3 CREDITS

Federal taxation of corporations, shareholders and related financial accounting implications over the life cycle of a corporation. Data mining and data visualization techniques to analyze and understand data. Statistical analysis and forecasting.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 836 U.S. Taxation of Multinational Transactions (Fall Semester)

3 CREDITS

Federal income taxation of transactions by U.S. persons outside the United States, and of investments by foreign persons in the United States.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
ACC 850 Accounting and Tax Implications of Mergers and Acquisitions (Fall Semester)

3 CREDITS

Analysis of tax and financial accounting issues involved in business acquisitions. Post-acquisition tax and financial reporting of the combined entity.

View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.

Admissions

Admissions criteria

To be eligible for our graduate-level tax certification, you must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0.

If your degree is in another area of study, you may still qualify for admission into our online tax specialist certification with certain coursework and work experience.

How to apply

Applications are accepted at any time but should be completed no later than two months prior to the desired starting semester.

View Steps to Apply

Tuition

Tuition for the graduate Taxation certificate is billed at $817.25 per credit hour, whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student. Additional course-related expenses for reading materials or software licenses may be incurred.

Why Earn a Graduate Certificate in Taxation Online at MSU?

MSU is known for its world-class programs, which guide and support students with in-demand, high-quality learning experiences.

Our Taxation certificate program is administered through our AACSB-accredited Department of Accounting and Information Systems, where you’ll find faculty mentors who take pride in innovative, globally oriented programs and comprehensive research endeavors. It’s one of the reasons our in-person Master of Accounting with Taxation Specialization is ranked #4 by Tax Talent.