University of Cape Town
Tax Law
Acquire the assurance and expertise to competently handle your personal or business tax matters.
Start date
15 September 2025
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The number of companies that are registered for tax in South Africa.
South African Revenue Service, and National Treasury (Dec, 2018).
The percentage that personal income tax contributed to total tax revenue collected in South Africa during the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
Statistics South Africa (Jun, 2019).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Since taxes are an unavoidable aspect of life, it is essential for individuals, business owners, and finance professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of taxation principles and their associated obligations.
The Tax Law online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT) aims to simplify the complex world of tax administration by enhancing your knowledge of the latest South African tax laws and their potential impact on you or your organisation. With the guidance of local tax law specialists, you’ll explore personal income tax, business income tax, capital gains tax, donations tax, and the taxation of trusts. The course is structured to equip you with practical skills to compute tax payable and file tax returns.
Is this course for you?
This course caters to a diverse audience that includes individuals, entrepreneurs, and legal and finance professionals and is beneficial for both personal and corporate tax matters. With the knowledge and skills acquired through this course, individuals can take control of their tax affairs and avoid the expense of hiring external help. Business owners and consultants can gain insight into running a legally compliant and tax-efficient enterprise, while accountants, bookkeepers, and lawyers can deepen their understanding of current tax legislation, enabling them to provide clients with sound advice and support.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Since taxes are an unavoidable aspect of life, it is essential for individuals, business owners, and finance professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of taxation principles and their associated obligations.
The Tax Law online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT) aims to simplify the complex world of tax administration by enhancing your knowledge of the latest South African tax laws and their potential impact on you or your organisation. With the guidance of local tax law specialists, you’ll explore personal income tax, business income tax, capital gains tax, donations tax, and the taxation of trusts. The course is structured to equip you with practical skills to compute tax payable and file tax returns.
Is this course for you?
This course caters to a diverse audience that includes individuals, entrepreneurs, and legal and finance professionals and is beneficial for both personal and corporate tax matters. With the knowledge and skills acquired through this course, individuals can take control of their tax affairs and avoid the expense of hiring external help. Business owners and consultants can gain insight into running a legally compliant and tax-efficient enterprise, while accountants, bookkeepers, and lawyers can deepen their understanding of current tax legislation, enabling them to provide clients with sound advice and support.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
An understanding of the various facets of South African tax law, and the rights and obligations of taxpayers.
The skills to calculate tax liability for individuals and businesses, and to fill in income tax returns.
Knowledge of capital gains tax and how different types of trusts are taxed.
A grounding in VAT and the tools to submit a VAT return.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
An introduction to South African tax
Module 2
Personal income tax
Module 3
Business income tax
Module 4
Capital gains tax
Module 5
Taxation of trusts
Module 6
Other taxes
Module 7
Value Added Tax
Module 8
Tax administration
Course Convenor
Tracy Gutuza
Associate Professor in the Department of Commercial Law, UCT
About the certificate
Enhance your understanding of South African taxation legislation and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
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