Taxation (TX) essentials on one page

About TX
Taxation provides you with the knowledge and skills required to compute tax liabilities and apply basic tax planning techniques for individuals, and companies. The diagram below is intended to give a general indication of the main taxes covered by the TX variant exams and does not include all taxes which may be examined. Please refer to the syllabus and study guide for the TX variant you are studying to confirm the exact taxes which you will be examined on.

Overview of TX

Illustration of the tax system, the obligations of tax payers and the implications of non-compliance. The graphic splits information out as relevant to individual versus companies

How to approach your studies

  • We strongly recommend that you study with an Approved Learning Partner.
  • Book your exam as early as possible to begin receiving relevant, tailored ACCA communications and support
  • Access the specimen exam and other content in the ACCA Practice Platform – this will give you a clear picture of how the exam is structured and how it will be assessed, as well as the likely style and range of questions that you could see in the real exam.

Advice from the examining team

  • The exam will include broad coverage of the main capabilities in the syllabus, and all taxes included within the syllabus will be examined.
  • Not all tax legislation applicable to a particular jurisdiction will be examinable. The syllabus and study guide sets out all of the knowledge that is required, as well as any excluded topics.
  • You will have access to a set of tax rates and allowances. You should ensure you become familiar with this document and use it during your studies.

Read more in the Examining team guidance.

ACCA Study Hub

The ACCA Study Hub is an exclusive digital platform providing free access to study materials, flashcards, short quizzes and practice questions.

Find out how the ACCA Study Hub helps you prepare for your exams.

CBE Practice Platform

  • Get familiar with the exam environment by doing past, practice and mock exams.
  • Self-mark your answers within the platform using marking guides and sample answers.

Access the CBE Practice Platform here

Link to support resources

Access the TX syllabus, technical articles & topic explainer videos, mock & debrief videos, the compass planning tool and additional support resources here.

Subscribe to the official ACCA student YouTube channel for the latest videos to help you prepare for your exams.

About the exam

Exam format

TX is a three-hour exam, comprising two sections. All questions are compulsory.

  • Section A comprises 15 multiple choice questions (MCQs) worth two marks each.
  • Section B comprises four 10-mark questions and two 15-mark questions. The 10-mark questions may come from any area of the syllabus. The two 15-mark questions will focus on income tax and corporate tax.

Most frequently used verbs in the TX exam: 

Advise – To offer guidance or relevant expertise to a recipient, allowing them to make a more informed decision.

Calculate – ascertain by computation. Provide description along with numerical calculations.

Explain – make an idea clear. Show logically how a concept is developed & give the reason for an event.

Read this article for more about exam verbs.

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