5 reasons why being a Tax Practitioner might be for you

Faculty and Staff

14 Dec 2023

Those who like the world of finance and enjoy the challenge of solving complicated puzzles, may be ideally suited for a future as a tax expert or tax practitioner. Milpark’s Head of Department in the School of Commerce (BCom), Shaaira Sackoor, currently presides over the school’s new BCom in Taxation programme, which offers a streamlined route for students to start a specialisation in a tax qualification from the beginning of their studies. “I love the world of tax,” says Shaaira. “I’m not a tick-the-box kind of person and the intricacies of taxation have always appealed to me. There are so many layers to this profession and it is much more interesting than people think.” For anyone interested in learning more, she highlights five advantages to being a tax practitioner:

It is a varied and dynamic field

“Everyone has to file a tax return and account for their taxes, from individuals to small businesses and large corporations,” says Shaaira. This means that there are many different facets to compiling tax information, understanding deductibles, and finding ways to save clients money. Every return is different, which means the work is never the same and finding deductions can actually be quite a fun part of the job, like putting together pieces of a puzzle to understand a person or a company’s financial situation and profile.

You don’t have to be a mathematics whizz

Many people might think that to be a tax expert, you need to be a genius at maths. But Shaaira says this is not the case. “Obviously there is mathematics involved and you need to be able to do BODMAS (basic rules of multiplication, brackets and division), but it is only in order to be able to do the tax calculation.” This means essentially understanding high school mathematics and not requiring more specialised or complicated mathematics knowledge. It is about understanding the law and the principles of taxation and how these apply in different scenarios and business operations.

Tax practitioners are in high demand

Once you have finished studying, there is a process to follow, which leads to accreditation with the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT). After getting the necessary work experience, the world is your oyster. You could choose to open your own business, doing tax returns for businesses or individuals, or you could work for corporations or financial institutions like PWC, Deloitte and KPMG. Opportunities to work abroad also exist and there are many areas of specialisation, for example in VAT or international tax.

Be your own boss

Tax practitioners often set up their own businesses, working from home and determining their own hours. If you are good at managing your time and are disciplined about working hours, you will be able to start your own business and work from where ever you choose, whenever. This is a very attractive option especially those with family responsibilities who don’t want to be stuck in a corporate environment or an office for hours each day.

Great salary options

According to one website, tax consultants start off at around R330 000 per year, with experienced managers at the top of the ladder making up to R7 044 000 per year. Considering that the number of years you have to study is less than for an auditing or chartered accountancy degree, a career as a tax practitioner may be a good option for someone who wants to start earning a good salary without having to commit to many years of study.

Shaaira says the new BCom degree from Milpark is an innovative and practical qualification that develops critical thinking and has been developed in close consultation with industry to train industry leaders. Fully online and geared towards giving students practical and real-life workplace knowledge, it is an excellent choice for any student looking for a finance qualification with attractive career prospects.

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Shaaira Sackoor HOD