5 Reasons to Get a Master of Business Taxation Degree

Tax has grown increasingly complicated over the years, making the challenging task of proper issue identification even more so. Whether you’re new to the practice or a seasoned professional, a master’s degree in business taxation can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to thrive in the field. Here are a few reasons to pursue this degree:

1. Become an essential part of any organization

Taxation is an essential function for all businesses. Its necessity within an organization helps create job security and stability even in times of recession. No matter the economic outlook, tax professionals are needed to help clients and organizations navigate evolving tax laws and regulations. Beyond ensuring compliance, tax practitioners help clarify tax implications for financial decisions big and small. From saving money to assisting with acquisitions and strategizing expansions, tax professionals are valuable business partners and in great demand.

Pursuing a taxation master’s program, like the Carlson School’s Master of Business Taxation, can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to thrive in this dynamic field. 

2. Broaden your professional possibilities 

Cultivating a deeper and broader understanding of taxation can set you up for a long and successful career no matter your goals. Want to become a leader in your current organization? A taxation master’s degree can help you develop the broad perspective you need to manage others, especially those outside your primary area of expertise. Interested in being a sole practitioner? A graduate taxation program can provide the knowledge and skills you need to start your own tax consulting firm or expand your services if you already run your own practice. Just starting out in the field? Get the foundational knowledge you need to work in almost any industry.

The Carlson School’s Master of Business Taxation program offers extensive flexibility to help you reach your professional goals. With many electives and a broad area of tax subjects to choose from, you can design your own course of study. Built around the needs of working professionals, it’s 100% online and you can progress through the program at your own pace, according to your schedule.

3. Invest in yourself and boost your earning potential

Take a look at the resume of tax leaders in most CPA firms and large corporations and you’ll likely find most have a graduate taxation degree. Completing a graduate program can help you demonstrate your commitment to the discipline and desire to grow within it. With greater and deeper tax knowledge, you may get promoted more quickly and/or qualify for more advanced positions that could boost your salary. 

4. Sharpen the skills and confidence you need to support a successful career

In a taxation graduate program, you’ll learn about fundamental tax topics and connect how and why things are done a certain way with the broader tax world. Through developing tax-related research, problem-solving, and communication skills, you’ll gain confidence in your ability to help clients and bosses understand tax implications of business decisions. Most importantly, you’ll hone your ability to self-learn, which prepares you to keep up with changing laws and regulations long after you graduate.

In the Carlson School’s Master of Taxation program, you’ll master these skills with the help of three full-time tax faculty as well as seasoned professionals in the field. Our instructors have decades of teaching and industry experience in the realms of public accounting, law, corporate tax, and Internal Revenue Services. They work to provide a unique educational environment where you learn not just from them, but also from each other. 

5. Grow your professional network 

A professional network in the tax field is an important tool for career growth and development. These connections can help you pivot into a new industry, learn about the latest industry trends and best practices, and you might even find a mentor to help you navigate your career. In a master’s program, you’ll have an immediate network of peers, faculty and staff mentors, and alumni. With this community, you can build meaningful and long-lasting relationships that can open the door to new opportunities.

At the Carlson School, our Business Career Center provides individualized career coaching to help you clarify and reach your career goals. Whether you’re interested in learning about a different industry or need strategies to help you land that next promotion, our dedicated coaches can help you take that first step toward your goal, and also every step after that—even after you’ve graduated.

Tax laws and regulations are constantly revised and updated to respond to societal and economic demands. Tax professionals are critical to an organization’s success as they help businesses navigate the dynamic and complex field. Develop the tools for a long and successful career with a master's degree in business taxation. Whether you’re new to the field or seeking to advance, learn more about how the Carlson School’s Master of Business Taxation program can help you reach your next career goal.