With the increasing globalisation of trading activity taxation considerations are having increasing impacts on the planning of international business activity. This module will consider what general tax principles should be applied when a business considers how it will organise its international activities. It focuses on the micro decision making process though elements of public finance and macro perspectives will be required to provide a rounded picture of the subject. Coverage will be given to specific principles that currently underpin the taxation of cross border trade such as the rules for taxation of transfer pricing, double taxation treaties. Some consideration will also be given to tax history, issues of jurisdictions, administration and compliance costs, direct v indirect taxation, capital taxes and the impact of technology on international taxation.
This module will build on prior courses in the programme that focus on domestic taxation which uses the UK as the primary example. Elements of this module will introduce the student to comparative taxation by extending their knowledge of the UK's domestic situation into other key domestic domains including the USA and Australia.

By the end of this module students will be able to:

• identify and analyse the core principles of taxation system design as they are applied across various domestic domains (comparative taxation);
• demonstrate a critical knowledge of the current application of general international taxation principles;
• critically evaluate the potential impacts of taxation on the decision making of international businesses;
• appraise the importance of tax planning in international business;
• demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how fiscal authorities approach the setting and maintenance of rules for international taxation.