Prerequisite: None

Exam Type: In Class

This course focuses on the U.S. federal income tax and the policy considerations that inform the design of the tax, which has become an important governmental tool for influencing many aspects of modern American life. The course accordingly examines not only the concept of taxable income, but also how the federal government uses the tax to influence the behavior of taxpayers, whether wealthy (e.g., the capital gains preference), middle-income (the education credits) or lower-income (the earned income credit). A principal goal of this course is also to teach students to analyze and apply a complex federal statute.

Unless waived by the instructor, Taxation is generally a prerequisite for J.D. students in the advanced tax courses.