Research Paper Assignment- (i have chosen individual income tax return)
Assignment. It is uncommon for anyone employed in the field of taxation, whether they be accountants, attorneys or IRS employees, to know, every section in the Internal Revenue Code, their unique requirements, the rules in the Treasury Regulations accompanying each section, and recent rulings, procedures and court cases by heart. Therefore, in the field of taxation, whether it be individual or corporate, substantial research is performed (in essence, meaning that everything will be open book) on questions which are posed to you by your clients. Once the research is performed, the answer must be communicated to either your supervisor or your client in clear and concise terms. As with most things, the communication of tax and/or any information is a skill of which practice makes perfect. As such, as part of your grade for this course, each of you will be required to do the following:
Choose a topic related to individual income tax, which will be covered, or in certain circumstances, not covered, in class this semester (Chapters 1 to 10). I have several topics which I believe would be acceptable and will give them out on a first-come, first serve basis, but will approve other topics posed by you. In order to write the research paper, you should do appropriate research using our text, the CCH Tax Research network, and all other reputable resources that are available for your disposal (does not include Wikipedia, etc.).
Objectives. The objectives of this assignment are (1) to research tax-related topics online and/or in print, and (2) to enhance the written and communication skills of the student.
Required. Include at least, the following: (1) a statement of the issue, i.e. “What amount can I deduct for college tuition and related expenses on the 2010 individual return?;” (2) Answer the question with references to specific IRC sections, Treasury Regulations, or Revenue Rulings/Procedures, and court cases, and (3) attach copies of all references to your memorandum. Unlike a APA research, your references will be related to Law citations, not articles.