AAU What is the Best Form of Equity Compensation Research Paper

Topic: What are the best forms of Equity compensation?

Based on the topic, prepare and submit a single-page outline to the instructor and your reviewer. List several sources that you plan to use.

Tax Research Project
In this course – Tax Research – we will apply tax concepts and rules to issues and fact patterns that need
to be clarified. You will discover that in some cases, there is a clear approach, while in others you must
draw conclusions from existing sources. To many of you, this course has a different context and approach
than other tax courses you have taken.
In week two, you will select an issue to research from a tax perspective. To do this, I will meet with you
to discuss your topic selection. If you have a specific interest in a topic, please let me know how we may
incorporate your interest.
It is essential that you get off to a quick start by settling on the topic of your research and understanding
the resources available to utilize. After selecting your topic, you will prepare outlines and a rough draft,
and then at the end of the semester, you will submit a detailed analysis utilizing primary and secondary
sources. In summary, your research memo must include:
a. Summary of facts and issues.
b. Detailed analysis of controlling law, with proper citations and pertinent references to secondary
sources. and
c. Conclusion as to the identified issue(s).
In the syllabus, you will see the course timeline and the due dates for the outlines, draft and final paper.
Another important component of tax research is learning to collaborate with colleagues. Therefore, you
will be reviewing and providing constructive feedback on a classmate’s research project.
Specific guidelines for your project and your reviews are provided in the rubrics.
To assist you in your research project, I am available throughout the course to meet or chat. I will be
happy to clarify any issues and help keep you on track. Furthermore, I have assigned a tax research
textbook and provided additional materials, including access to tax services, helpful videos and
informative online research links.
Here is a brief summary of the research process:
1. Establish the Facts – Get all the relevant facts. Facts that appear irrelevant initially may prove to
be relevant later on.
2. Identify the Issues.
a. Fact issues are concerned with information having an objective reality.
b. Law issues arise when it is not clear which portion of the law applies to the factual
issues.
c. Seemingly simple situations often generate many tax research issues. New issues may
result from attempts to solve the original problem.
3. Locate Authority.
a. Primary authority comes from statutory, administrative, and judicial sources. The
Internal Revenue Code is the basis for tax law; administrative and judicial authorities
interpret and explain applications of the Code.
b. Secondary authority consists of unofficial sources of tax information, such as
i. journals, treatises, and newsletters.
ii. Annotated services
iii. Topical services
iv. Court reporters
4. Evaluate Authority. Different authorities may suggest different treatments or may have different
precedential values.
5. Develop Conclusions and recommendations .
a. No single best answer may be available; alternatives must be considered.
b. Recommendations should include alternative courses of actions.
6. Communicate your recommendations in the final version.
Conducting Tax Research Using Online Services
In order to efficiently conduct tax research in today’s environment, you should use online tax research
databases. This will allow you to search large amounts of data very quickly by using a search query.
Another benefit of online tax services is that they are current, many of them being updated in real time.
The general approach to using an online service are the following steps:
Step 1 – State the Issue as a Question
Step 2 – Identify the Keywords
Step 3 – Construct a Computer Research Query
Step 4 – Select a Database and Execute the Search
Step 5- Interpret and refine the Search
At Seton Hall, we have access to the RIA Checkpoint subscription tax service. We have posted a video
demonstrating how to use RIA Checkpoint.
Checkpoint offers an online database structure that permits multiple ways to search for and retrieve tax
law information organized as editorial (secondary) and primary source materials such as Keyword,
Content, Index, and search by Citation. Primary materials must serve as the foundation for any
conclusions. The tax law information is constantly updated. Checkpoint Citator assists researchers in
confirming the status of retrieved tax law. Checkpoint Catalyst is the newest innovation by Thomson
Reuters for researching tax law. Checkpoint also contains treatises and periodicals that vary based on the
subscription. Changes in technology and the tax services happen on a continuous basis and thus the look
and feel of the service may change, but the search techniques are likely to remain the same.
I look forward to working with you. I am confident that this experience will add a critical dimension to
your tax education.
Once again, I am available at any time in the course to meet or to chat to clarify any issues and to keep
you on track!