Tax law is perhaps one of the fields that have always stayed the same for very long years. The tax law could be defined as the set of rules, regulations, and procedures related to the tax that a citizen owes the government. It could be central government or state government. While most people consider tax to be very generic and distinct from law, it is also a part of the legal system in India that applies to all Indian citizens. This is why tax law is considered to be one of the job fields that you could consider working in.
As the population of India has been increasing, the demand for tax law graduates and professionals is also increasing. If you think that tax law job is limited to the public sector, you are mistaken. Job opportunities in the tax law field are spread in both the public and private sectors. While there are people who consider and comment tax law to be a dying field, they are wrong. Today, tax law is one of the thriving fields where new job opportunities have popped up.
Unlike other fields that require quantitative skills, this field does not need such skills as mandatory. To thrive and succeed in this field the candidate should have good ethics and should have passion.
As of now, there are several tax law courses offered all around India, but, not all of them are good. In this article, we will discuss two main courses.
- Diploma in tax law or taxation law
- LLM in tax law or taxation law
While both the courses focus on the same field. In terms of duration, fee, syllabus, job opportunities, and salary, they are different.
Diploma Course – Taxation Law
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Eligibility criteria –
The eligibility criteria for a diploma in tax law are different in different colleges and institutions. However, the general and basic eligibility criteria are as listed below.
- The applicant should have passed 12th
- The applicant should have secured a minimum of 50% marks in the 12th final exam
- The applicant should have completed 12th from a government recognized board of education
- He/she must be from the commerce stream
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Course duration –
The general course duration of a Diploma in tax law is around 1-year. However, recently we have noticed some colleges and institutions offering 1.5-year Diploma in tax law course.
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Admission process –
Even if this is a diploma course, there are some colleges and institutions that conduct their own entrance test to cherry-pick suitable candidates. The entrance test would be to test the analytical skills, creativity, communication skill, and problem-solving capacity. However, not all colleges/institutions do this. Only a few colleges/institutions do it. All the other colleges and institutions accept candidates merit-based. The marks required to find a place on the merit list would be different for different colleges/institutions. If you are planning to join a specific college or institution, call them or email them to enquire about the admission process they follow. Some colleges and institutions follow both entrance-based and merit-based admission processes.
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Course fees –
As mentioned, the course fee for Diploma in tax law is different in different colleges and institutions, and states. However, as this is a diploma course the total course fee could be around INR 15000 and 100000.
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Course Syllabus –
The course syllabus of the Diploma in taxation law is not the same everywhere. However, in general, the syllabus followed is as follows.
- Sale to government
- Agriculture income
- Introduction of central sales tax law
- Liability to central sales tax
- Computation of income from real estate
- Assessment of individuals
- Procedure of assessment
- Computation of income from capital gains and income from secondary sources
- Deduction from gross total income
- Assessment of joint-stock companies
- Computation of income from business or profession
- Company in liquidation
- Assessments in various cases
- Liability of service tax
- Introduction to service tax law
- Summary provisions for various taxable services
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Job opportunities –
While the job opportunities available for a candidate who has completed a Diploma in Tax law are not diverse. The number of job opportunities available is immense. Here are some of the common job titles that could be decorated by a candidate who has completed a Diploma in tax law.
- Tax specialist
- Accountant
- Tax advisor
- Tax consultant
Diploma in tax law/taxation law (DTL): Salary package –
While most people consider Diploma courses to be inferior to UG courses. In the case of Tax law, it is not that bad. The salary package of a candidate who has completed a Diploma in Tax law could be around INR 5 lakh per annum.
PG Course – Taxation Law
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Eligibility criteria –
LLM in tax and law is a postgraduate degree and the eligibility criteria for this course is different from the above-mentioned diploma course. Here are the general eligibility criteria of LLM tax law.
- Candidates should have completed a bachelor’s degree in law, it could be a 3-year or 5-year course.
- The candidate should have scored at least 45% marks for their bachelor’s degree
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Course duration –
As this is a postgraduate course, the course duration is just 2-years. While other courses are split into semesters. LLM in tax law is not split into semesters.
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Course fees –
On average the course fee for LLM in tax law could be around 65000 per year. However, in some colleges, the course fee per year is comparatively very high. It could be around 1 to 2 lakhs per year.
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Scope –
If compared to other courses related to tax law, LLM in tax law is very good. It is not because it is a postgraduate course, but, the candidate who peruse this course already has a UG law degree, which he or she proficient in law and combined with this LLM course, the level of skill and knowledge a candidate would have is unmatched. Therefore, LLM in tax law graduates has a lot of job opportunities.
In the coming years, the demand for LLM tax law graduates could increase. Therefore, if you want to peruse a job in this field, then you could peruse the LLM course in tax law.
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Admission process –
As this is a postgraduate course, the admission process of this course is different. The candidates seeking admission in tax law should first satisfy the eligibility criteria mentioned above. The eligibility criteria for LLM in tax law are different for different colleges. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you could get enrolled in this course based on merit or entrance. Some of the colleges allow students to join based on merit and some colleges and universities demand entrance exam scores and rank. Few of the universities conduct their own entrance test at the state and central levels. You need to pass this entrance test and score high marks or rank to enroll for the course.
LLM in tax law/taxation law: syllabus –
This postgraduate course syllabus is almost the same in all universities and colleges in India. The syllabus is as follows.
- Direct tax laws
- International tax
- Corporate tax
- State and local body tax
- Tax litigation
- Indirect tax laws
- General principles of taxation
- Tax on intellectual property and E-Commerce
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Job opportunities –
The job opportunities for candidates who have graduated LLM tax law are diverse. Here are some of the job titles that are suitable for the candidates.
- Tax counsel – The job role is to resolve tax issues of corporates, individuals, and others.
- Tax professional – Help the client prepare tax statements, tax returns, make tax deductions, adjust tax payments, etc.
- Senior tax consultant – Help the client and also advise the client plan and compile tax returns.
- Professor – Impart knowledge to students on tax law subjects and topics.
- Law clerk – Job role is to conduct legal research, prepare drafts, memos, and communicate with the judiciary to prepare and send notices to people.
- Tax analyst – interact with the corporates and individuals to fill-in forms for property and business taxes.
LLM in tax law/taxation law: Salary package –
The salary package for a graduate who has completed and passed LLM in tax law could be around 10 lakhs per annum. LLM in tax law graduates could get a job in both the private and public sectors.
DTL Course Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the fees of the DTL course in India?
It costs between INR 15000 and INR 1 lakh to complete a DTL course in India over the course of one year which vary from university to university depending on the standards set by each institution.
- How much a DTL graduate can earn?
In India, the average wage offered for a Certificate in Taxation Law is Rupees 5 lakhs every year or more, with the amount varying depending on the individual’s experience and skills.
- Is there any specific entrance exam for the DTL course?
In order to get admission to this course, there is no entry requirement. Candidates who have completed their bachelor’s degree in the relevant field are able to qualify for this course. 10+2 from a recognized university is the minimum requirement for this course.
The majority of colleges, on the other hand, have their own entrance exam. It is primarily this 4-section listed below that is covered in the DTL entrance examination:
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Logical Reasoning
- English Aptitude
- General Knowledge
- What is the eligibility for the DTL course?
Graduates of a recognized university with a degree in commerce or law are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Taxation program.
Many academic institutions also accept candidates who have a Bachelor’s degree in art or science with one year of real-world experience in taxes or related fields, as well as candidates who have a Master’s degree in taxes or related fields.
Candidates with a three-year diploma in taxation or a related field and two years of real-world experience in taxes or a related field are encouraged to apply.
- How to get admission to the DTL course?
The entrance is depending on the outcomes of the 10+2 examination from a recognized board. Some colleges administer their own entrance exams to determine the ability of students and their analytical skills. Candidates must be able to think with an innovative and creative mind, have excellent communication skills, be up to date on current events, and have a wealth of information about the taxes sector and the market in general.
Distance learning is only available at a few colleges and institutes. The distance course system provides students with a variety of communication options, which has resulted in a significant increase in the popularity of distance education among students in recent years.
- What are the job opportunities for DTL graduates?
The job opportunities include:
- Tax Advisor
- Accountant
- Finance Manager
- Tax Consultant
- Tax Specialist
- What are the documents essential for DTL course admission?
The list of important documents includes:
- Class X mark sheet and certificate
- XII mark sheet and certificate
- Transfer certificate from college
- Mark sheet and certificate of graduation
- Migration certificate
- Provisional Certificate
- Caste certificate for physically handicapped/SC/ST students
- 5 recent color photograph passport size
Rahul Kumar is a passionate educator, writer, and subject matter expert in the field of education and professional development. As an author on CoursesXpert, Rahul Kumar’s articles cover a wide range of topics, from various courses, educational and career guidance.
