LL4AY      Half Unit
International Tax Systems

This information is for the 2018/19 session.

Teacher responsible

Mr Eduardo Baistrocchi NAB 7.33

Availability

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law and Accounting and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course will be relevant to the following LLM specialisms: International Business Law, Taxation.

This course is capped at 30 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on LSEforYou.

Pre-requisites

Students should have at least a basic knowledge of a tax system of a country (not necessarily the UK) or be studying LL4Z1 Business Taxation.

Course content

This course examines how taxation applies to transactions in the international context. The focus is on rules that operate at an international or supra-national level, though we will look at some domestic rules that are important to international taxation and that can be found in a number of important tax systems. The course will look at a series of international transactions, starting with the very basic example of an export and import of goods and culminating with the treatment of some complex and artificial structures. The features of tax systems will be studied through these transactions, particularly those features found in double tax conventions and in the law of the European Union. In the first part of the course this will be supplemented by introductions to some key foundation concepts that are needed in the study of international taxation. Throughout the course examples will be drawn from the tax systems of a range of countries.

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

This will be based on a format of lecture-discussions with the possibility of guest speakers where appropriate and depending on numbers. Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Formative coursework

Students are asked to submit one 2,000 word essay.

Indicative reading

Detailed reading lists will be provided during the course via Moodle.

Recommended preliminary reading: Avi-Yonah, Reuven S., 'Double Tax Treaties: An Introduction' (2007). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1048441; Baistrocchi, Eduardo A., 'The Use and Interpretation of Tax Treaties in the Emerging World: Theory and Implications' [2008] British Tax Review 352. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1273089; Roxan, Ian, 'Limits to Globalisation: Some Implications for Taxation, Tax Policy, and the Developing World' (January 30, 2012). LSE Legal Studies Working Paper No. 3/2012. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1995633

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.

Key facts

Department: Law

Total students 2017/18: 13

Average class size 2017/18: 15

Controlled access 2017/18: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills