Program Overview

Canadian Indirect Taxes Program

The Canadian Indirect Taxes program is designed to equip professionals with in-demand skills in Canadian tax compliance and planning. This professional development program focuses on the fundamental principles and management of Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST), Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), Quebec Sales Tax (QST), and Retail Sales Taxes across Canada.

Program Overview

• The program is fully virtual, allowing students to continue working full-time while attaining in-demand knowledge and skills.
• Courses are taught by tax professionals, providing students with real-world insights and expertise.
• The program features open enrollment, making it accessible to a wide range of professionals.

What You'll Learn

• The theory underlying various forms of transactional taxes that apply in Canada.
• The structure of and how to utilize the Excise Tax Act as a tool for tax compliance.
• How to identify and evaluate compliance risks associated with indirect taxes for organizations and/or clients.
• Strategies for minimizing tax exposure in connection with various forms of indirect taxes.

Program Structure

• The program consists of three virtual microcredential courses.
• Completion of all three courses earns a Certificate of Completion.
• Each course is approximately 10 weeks long, with a total program duration of 8+ months.

Career Opportunities

• Specializing in an underserved discipline within the field of Tax at professional services firms.
• Enhancing the skill set required to complete tax compliance tasks in both the private and public sectors.
• Learning to effectively manage sales tax audits from the Federal and Provincial taxing authorities.
• Developing strategies to minimize the expense and exposure associated with Indirect Taxes in Canada.

Admission Requirements

• The program is open enrollment, with no formal application or admission procedure.
• To enroll in a course, simply register online.
• Students must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, or be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University, or be deemed an exceptional case.
• English proficiency is required; if English is not the student's native language, they must meet McMaster University's English proficiency requirements.

Registration

• Visit the program page to find the program of choice.
• Click on each tab to learn about credential options and requirements, schedule and fees, and a list of all courses in the program.
• Select a course and then select an available offering, noting important information such as cost, delivery format, and start/end dates; then click ‘add to cart’.
• Once courses are added, click the shopping cart icon at the top right-hand corner of the page (bottom of the browser screen on mobile).
• Review the cart and, once ready to proceed with enrollment, click ‘proceed to checkout’.
• Complete all required fields and select a program of study when prompted (i.e., a specific program or open studies for standalone courses).
• Payment is required in full to secure a spot in the course(s).

Payment Options

• Payment must be made in full at the time of enrollment.
• Online credit card or debit payments are preferred.
• Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
• Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard.
• Google Pay is available for faster checkout.
• Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in the McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, the student can register for the course.

Certificate in Canadian Indirect Taxes

• Earn a certificate of completion and receive a microcredential highlighting the skills gained.
• The certificate requires completing all three required courses listed below.
• Through the Certificate of Completion in Canadian Indirect Taxes, students will learn to:
  • Understand the theory underlying various forms of transactional taxes that apply in Canada.
  • Understand the structure of and how to utilize the Excise Tax Act as a tool for tax compliance.
  • Be able to identify and evaluate compliance risks associated with indirect taxes for their organizations and/or clients.
  • Develop strategies for minimizing tax exposure in connection with various forms of indirect taxes.

Courses

• CIT 101: Introduction to the Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sale Tax (HST).
• CIT 102: Public Institutions and Service Bodies (MUSH).
• CIT 103: Cross-Border and Ecommerce.

Schedule

• Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March.
• Program Requirements: Review the certificate or diploma tab.
• Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone.
• Course Fees: A McMaster Part-Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses.
• Additional Fees: New students pay a one-time, non-refundable $39 activation fee for their first academic-credit course.

Land Acknowledgment

McMaster University recognizes and acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the Dish With One Spoon wampum agreement.