ATT Examination structure changes from 2019

ATT Exam Structure Changes from 2019

Exemption from the CIOT’s CTA Awareness examination paper

From 2019 all exam qualified ATT students (and ATT members) will be eligible to apply for an exemption from the CTA Awareness examination paper. The cost for this will be approximately £145 (2019 fees yet to be confirmed).   

Revised ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles

From May 2019, ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles will be renamed ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation.  The majority of the accounting syllabus will be removed from the paper.  Nothing additional will be added to the syllabus.

New Accounting Computer Based Examination (CBE)

The ATT (in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)) has created a new Computer Based Examination (CBE): Principles of Accounting. The CBE was made available from March 2019 and there are sample exams available on the ATT website.  Students who have passed the current ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles will be given an exemption from this CBE. 

Students can apply for an exemption, for a fee, subject to having other qualifications. The list of qualifications which will attract the exemption is below:

  • Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
  • Accounting Technicians of Ireland (formerly known as IATI)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
  • Association of International Accountants (AIA)
  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
  • Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants New Zealand (ICANZ)
  • South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants India (ICAI)

Change to (credits) exemptions on offer from ATT Paper 2

At present, AAT Members who have passed the Business Taxation Computations Module (previously, Unit 18, Preparing Business Taxation Computations) can apply for a credit from ATT Paper 2. Due to the changes that have taken place to Paper 2 from 2019, this credit has been withdrawn.

Exemption

Credits awarded to students on the basis of another qualification are now called exemptions and will remain valid indefinitely.

An exemption will continue to signify a pass in an ATT examination paper and remain valid for six examination sittings.

Sample Frequently Asked Questions

1) I have a valid pass for ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles, do I have to do the Principles of Accounting CBE?

If you have passed the current ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles (prior to May 2019) then you will be given an exemption from the new Principles of Accounting CBE.  

2) I passed ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles before 2019. Can I carry this exemption across to my CTA studies?

If you have an exemption from the Principles of Accounting CBE by virtue of passing ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles, you will not be able to carry this exemption across to your CIOT student record.

The new Principles of Accounting CBE was introduced in response to employer feedback gathered during the course of consultations regarding the revised CTA exam structure in effect from 2019. A number of employers considered that those CTA students who did not have an accounting qualification (i.e. those who came to CTA via the ATT route) needed more knowledge of accounting at the CTA level. The new Accounting manual for this CBE will contain extra material compared to the current edition. Your Accounting studies for the ATT Business Taxation & Accounting Principles will, of course, be a good foundation for your Principles of Accounting CBE during your CTA studies.

3) Will my Principles of Accounting CBE pass or exemption be carried across to my CIOT record in the same way as my other Computer Based Examination passes?

If you pass the Principles of Accounting CBE, then the pass will be transferred to your CIOT student record with a validity period of nine sittings from the pass date (this is the same validity as the two CBEs in Law and Professional Responsibilities & Ethics).

4) How would this affect me as a Tax Pathway student?

As a Tax Pathway student, you will be required to complete (or become exempt from) the Principles of Accounting CBE to become either ATT or CTA exam qualified. If an exemption from the Principles of Accounting CBE is claimed by virtue of ATT Paper 2: Business Taxation & Accounting Principles, then you would be required to sit the CBE to become CTA exam qualified.