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CTA Advanced Technical

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Overview

In CTA Advanced Technical you will be tested on the depth of your technical knowledge in the areas of taxation which you choose. You can choose two areas most relevant to your work based tax specialism to focus on, and learn about how to identify and solve tax issues.

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Average duration

12 months

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Assessments

Two advanced technical exams

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Kaplan pass rate

13% higher than global average*

*Versus the global average pass rate of 53%, across all levels in 2024. Valid as of May 2025.

Timetables

Programmes are running regularly throughout the year. View our timetables for scheduled sessions (Classroom and Live Online) to see when the next one is running.

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Who it’s for

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements to commence the CTA qualification. However the CIOT strongly recommends those without an accounting or law qualification should first study ATT.

Learning outcomes from the course

By the end of Advanced Technical, you'll have a deep understanding of your chosen specialist tax areas and the ability to apply complex legislation to real-world situations. You'll develop strong analytical skills, enabling you to evaluate client scenarios, identify key tax issues, and recommend effective solutions. This stage also sharpens your research and interpretation abilities, ensuring you can navigate detailed tax law with confidence. Ultimately, you'll be equipped to provide high-level, strategic advice to clients and employers alike.

Apprenticeships

You may be eligible to sit the exams and become CTA qualified as part of an apprenticeship, depending on your circumstances.

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Really good tutor who provided good structure and guidance on the exam and study.

Kaplan CTA Live Online learner

Course content - choose two

The modules selected must not be the same as the awareness modules you select.

Optional

Taxation of Owner-Managed Businesses (OMB)

You’ll learn how to identify and solve tax issues in owner-managed businesses. You’ll cover taxes applicable to both incorporated and unincorporated businesses, to include Income Tax, National Insurance, Capital Gains Tax, and Corporation tax, and use your judgement and technical knowledge to assess tax and answer tax problems.

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  • Tax implications of setting up, running, and disposing of a business
  • Income tax and corporation tax for owner-managed businesses
  • Capital gains tax planning and reliefs
  • Extracting profits tax-efficiently
  • Business succession and exit strategies
  • Interaction between personal and business taxes
  • Tax issues in incorporation and disincorporation

Optional

Taxation of Individuals (IND)

You’ll learn how to identify and solve tax issues individuals may face. You’ll cover taxes applicable to individuals; to include Income Tax on employment income, property income and foreign income, Capital Gains Tax, and National Insurance, and learn how these are affected by an Individual’s residence and domicile.

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  • Income tax, including employment, self-employment, and investment income
  • Capital gains tax, including reliefs and exemptions
  • Inheritance tax and estate planning
  • Residence, domicile, and the taxation of non-UK domiciled individuals
  • Tax planning for high-net-worth individuals
  • Pensions and retirement planning
  • Interaction between different personal taxes

Optional

Inheritance Tax, Trusts, and Estates (IHTTE)

You’ll learn the skills needed to identify and resolve tax issues that are found in individuals, trusts and estates; to include Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax.

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  • Principles and scope of inheritance tax (IHT)
  • Lifetime transfers and exemptions
  • IHT on death and estate administration
  • Trust types, taxation, and planning
  • Tax compliance and reporting for trusts and estates
  • Use of trusts in tax and estate planning
  • Interaction of IHT with income tax and capital gains tax in trusts

Optional

Taxation of Larger Companies and Groups (LCG)

You’ll gain an understanding of the legislation and technical knowledge needed to find and solve tax issues that are found in major corporates, primarily FTSE 100 and FTSE 350 companies; to encompass Corporation Tax, Capital Gains in relation to corporates and groups, and Stamp Duty.

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  • Corporation tax for larger companies, including compliance and planning
  • Group taxation, including group relief and consolidation
  • Transfer pricing and international tax considerations
  • Capital allowances and depreciation for businesses
  • Tax treatment of mergers, acquisitions, and disposals
  • Taxation of financing arrangements and corporate structures
  • VAT and other indirect taxes for larger companies

Optional

Human Capital (HC)

Learn to spot and resolve tax issues for employers, focusing on Income Tax and National Insurance. While the emphasis is on the employer’s side, you’ll also explore how employment income affects employees.

Human Capital courses are held at Tolley’s premises for Kaplan — call 0161 259 7400 or email studentservices@kaplan.co.uk to book this course.

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  • Employment taxes, including PAYE, NICs, and benefits in kind
  • Taxation of employee remuneration packages, including share options and pensions
  • Tax-efficient employment structures and planning
  • International employment tax issues, including cross-border workers
  • Employment-related securities and tax planning for businesses
  • Tax considerations for employee and director contracts
  • Social security and pensions planning

Exams

You must register with CIOT as a student at least four months in advance of taking your first exam. Each Advanced Technical paper is a ‘stand alone’ paper, exam details include:

Sittings: Every six months, with exams in May and November.

Time: 3 hours 30 minutes with no reading time.

Questions: Five or six long-style questions for either 10, 15, or 20 marks each (totalling 100 marks).

Format: Mix of computational and written questions.

Pass mark: 50%, and you’ll receive a credit in that paper.

Pathways

There are two pathways to achieving this qualification, depending on whether you're exempt from the Awareness paper.

You are exempt

Complete in 12 months

CBEs:

Law, Ethics, Accounting

Sitting 1:

Select first Advanced Technical Paper

Sitting 2:

Select second Advanced Technical Paper and the matching Application and Professional Skills Paper

Not exempt

Complete in 18 months

CBEs:

Law, Ethics, Accounting

Sitting 1:

Awareness Paper

Sitting 2:

Select first Advanced Technical Paper

Sitting 3:

Select second Advanced Technical Paper and the matching Application and Professional Skills Paper

Tip: If you are a qualified accountant (ACCA with ATX, ICAEW, ICAI, ICAS) or qualified ATT, you may be exempt from the Awareness paper.

Also, because the technical knowledge required for the Application and Professional Skills paper closely aligns with the related Advanced Technical paper, it’s recommended to take both at the same time.

Courses

Inc VAT, excludes exams

Classroom from £2,752
Live Online from £2,477
Distance Learning from £583
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Everything you need to succeed

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Expert material

Our courses include expert content, designed to help you pass your exams. You’ll get access to a range of study materials depending on which method you choose to study.

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Academic support

Our team of 50+ finance experts and advisors provide gold-standard personalised academic support 7 days a week. We offer exam strategies, study plans, and proactive resit advice.

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Pass Guarantee

If your results aren't as expected, we provide free access to extra content, extended tutor support, and guidance for resitting until you pass your exams.

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The science of learning

We offer dynamic courses based on insights from learning scientists and industry professionals. Our data-driven teaching methods ensure student success and progression.

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Well-being support

Access well-being support through our resource library or speak confidentially with Kaplan's Mental Health First Aiders, safeguarding team, or your tutor and talent coach.

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Accessibility

We're committed to an inclusive learning environment, ensuring accessibility and personalised support for all students to succeed.

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What’s included

For Classroom and Live Online, we offer both tuition and revision courses for CTA Advanced Technical. On tuition courses the focus is on learning the key areas of the syllabus covered in the course workbook, laying down a foundation of technical knowledge. Revision courses build upon this knowledge, focusing upon exam question practice and technique to prepare you for the real exam. Distance Learning is a complete course so you do not need to choose the individual elements.

Tuition courses

  • Study Manuals and accompanying Question BanksThe Study Manuals cover the syllabus for each course and are the key source of your learning material. The Question Banks are designed to test your understanding of the fundamental principles covered in each chapter in the corresponding Study Manual.
  • Course Workbooks and Workbook Q&A*These detail the core areas of the syllabus which will be covered during the Classroom and Live Online courses, incorporating worked examples. Additional questions to attempt in class are provided in the workbook Q&A section.
  • Pre-revision question bankContains more challenging questions for you to consolidate your knowledge of the full syllabus for each paper.
  • Course examA marked assessment that has been designed to test your understanding of the material covered during your studies. It is taken during the tuition phase and is at a simpler level designed to test your knowledge as you work through the content.
  • Pre-revision mockDesigned to be attempted after you’ve worked through the pre-revision question bank. The pre-revision mock is harder than the course exam, designed to prepare you for the revision phase of your studies.

* Available for Classroom or Live Online learners.

Revision courses

  • Revision question bankContains exam standard questions and recent past papers, all with answers updated to the relevant Finance Act, providing excellent final preparation for the exam.
  • Revision mockTo be attempted after you have worked through the revision question bank. This is an exam standard exam designed to prepare you for sitting the real exam.
  • Memory joggersShort summaries of the key rules covered in each chapter of the study manuals, and also include any useful proformas. They are designed to refresh your knowledge on any areas you’re stuck on as you work your way through the revision question bank.

All courses include

Personalised online learning portal called MyKaplan. Access your additional online materials, contact your tutors, and take part in discussion forums.

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Study methods

Get everything you need to succeed, along with tailored features depending on which study method you choose.

Feature

Classroom
from £2,752

Live Online
from £2,477

Distance Learning
from £583

Live, tutor-led classes at set times
Interactive elearning modules
Speak face-to-face with tutors and other learners on the same course
Speak online with learners on the same course
Pass Guarantee available on full course
Study at your own pace

Focused teaching on the exam and how to pass it, good structure and organisation of lesson plans.

Kaplan CTA Classroom Learner

Course materials & courses are excellent. Our firm has tried other providers who are nowhere near as good.

Kaplan CTA Live Online Learner

Ways to pay

Pay for your course using a debit card, credit card, or PayPal. We also offer alternative payment methods to suit your needs.

Invoice your employer

Your employer may fund the costs of your studies if you're already working in a related field and want to develop your learning.

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PayPal Pay in 3

A buy now, pay later service that splits your purchase into three equal interest-free payments. Offering a flexible way to spread the cost.

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Become a Kaplan client

If you're looking to train your staff and upskill your organisation, you can register as a Kaplan client.

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Alternatively, you can apply for one of our payment plans. Spread the cost by paying monthly, so you can focus on learning and passing exams.

Other routes to becoming CTA qualified

Flexible option

ACA CTA Joint Programme

The ACA CTA joint programme lets you achieve two prestigious qualifications in a shorter amount of time - ACA and CTA. You can become a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with the joint programme.

Find out more

Flexible option

ATT CTA Tax Pathway

The ATT CTA Tax Pathway lets you study for both Tax qualifications at an accelerated rate. The Tax Pathway is very flexible, affording you an earlier opportunity to specialise.

Find out more