University of Cape Town
Payroll and Tax Administration
Gain a deep understanding of tax regulations and optimise your company's financial practices while ensuring fair and efficient compensation for your workforce.
Start date
23 January 2025
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The percentages of organisations that have shifted to cloud-based payroll solutions.
Deloitte (2018).
An effective payroll department helps boost employee morale.
South African Payroll Association (Sep, 2019).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
If payroll and tax matters are not managed correctly, it can result in significant losses for a business in terms of time and money and negatively impact employee morale. A competent payroll administrator who stays up-to-date with current legislation and best practices can add immense value to an organisation.
The Payroll and Tax Administration online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT) is designed to equip you with the skills to effectively perform these crucial bookkeeping tasks. The course covers key concepts related to both individual and business taxation, including eFiling and VAT returns. You’ll also explore various payroll systems and packages and gain tools to manage employee remuneration efficiently to ensure a happy and satisfied workforce.
Is this course for you?
This course is designed to cater to established payroll administrators, finance clerks, bookkeepers, and business owners, allowing them to update their existing skills and keep abreast of current tax legislation. Additionally, individuals seeking to enhance their careers and transition to administrative, finance, or human resources roles within a business may find this curriculum valuable. It is worth noting that no prior knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting, or finance is required to take this course.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
If payroll and tax matters are not managed correctly, it can result in significant losses for a business in terms of time and money and negatively impact employee morale. A competent payroll administrator who stays up-to-date with current legislation and best practices can add immense value to an organisation.
The Payroll and Tax Administration online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT) is designed to equip you with the skills to effectively perform these crucial bookkeeping tasks. The course covers key concepts related to both individual and business taxation, including eFiling and VAT returns. You’ll also explore various payroll systems and packages and gain tools to manage employee remuneration efficiently to ensure a happy and satisfied workforce.
Is this course for you?
This course is designed to cater to established payroll administrators, finance clerks, bookkeepers, and business owners, allowing them to update their existing skills and keep abreast of current tax legislation. Additionally, individuals seeking to enhance their careers and transition to administrative, finance, or human resources roles within a business may find this curriculum valuable. It is worth noting that no prior knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting, or finance is required to take this course.
What will set you apart
An up-to-date understanding of payroll systems and tax procedures that can be applied immediately to your context.
The knowledge to ensure organisational compliance with current legislation and regulations.
The skills to calculate and allocate payroll, while taking employee leave into account.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Basic tax concepts for individuals
Module 2
Advanced tax concepts for individuals
Module 3
Basic tax concepts for business
Module 4
Advanced tax concepts for business
Module 5
Payroll – principles and legislation
Module 6
Payroll administration
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What past students
think
Marianne Anderson
Past student
Tax legislation continues to evolve over time, and it is easy to get left behind. It is therefore very important to stay in touch with changes. In my opinion, this course was an easy and hassle-free way to achieve just that.
Course Convenors
Riley Carpenter
Senior Lecturer, College of Accounting, UCT
Shaun Parsons
Associate Professor, College of Accounting, UCT
About the certificate
Gain expertise in areas such as payroll calculations, tax deductions, reporting, and other essential aspects of payroll and tax administration and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
