Taxation Master's Programs

A master's degree in taxation goes deeper into tax law, research and compliance than a general accounting degree does. This directory lists taxation master's programs offered through accounting departments and business schools, usually titled Master of Science in Taxation (MS or MST), Master of Taxation, or similar. It does not list the LL.M. in Taxation, which is a law degree offered by law schools and has different admission rules and a different purpose. This guide explains what the accounting versions look like and what to check.

What these programs cover

Course lists vary, but program pages describe a common core. Golden Gate University's online MS in Taxation (30 units) states that its core courses cover federal income taxation, tax procedure and tax research. DePaul University's online Master of Science in Taxation & Analytics is a 48-credit program and, per its catalog, expects students to have completed Principles of Accounting and one introductory tax course before starting. The variety matters: some programs add analytics, some are broad tax-practice degrees, and some are tuned to preparing for professional exams. Browse the taxation subject page for the directory's verified listings.

Who the programs are built for

Many taxation master's programs assume an accounting background.

• The University of Washington's Master of Taxation states it is designed primarily for applicants who studied business administration with an accounting major. It is a nine-month, full-time, in-person program with fall-quarter admission only.
• The University of Alabama's Master of Tax Accounting requires 24 hours of undergraduate accounting prerequisite courses before admission, along with letters of recommendation, and it lists a GMAT score requirement. A listed score is a school's stated requirement, not a guarantee of admission.
• The University at Albany says its taxation master's is for people who earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and want to specialize in tax accounting; the program is 30 credits and can be completed in two semesters of full-time study.

If you do not have an accounting degree, look at the programs that describe a route for you, and expect prerequisite courses; see master's programs for non-accounting graduates and the conversion route filter.

On campus, online and in between

Taxation is one of the more common online master's areas in our data, and delivery styles differ:

• Bryant University's online Master of Science in Taxation is 30 credits, asynchronous, with ten-week courses.
• Fordham University's Professional Taxation M.S. is 30 credits, with all tax courses offered online as live synchronous courses per the bulletin.
• The University of Cincinnati's online MS in Taxation is a 30-credit-hour program of seven-week courses, and its page states no GMAT requirement.

See online master's programs and choosing an online accounting degree for questions to ask about format.

Taxation master's, the CPA and other credentials

Three different things are easy to confuse.

The master's degree. It is an academic qualification. It is not a license.

The CPA. Becoming a CPA involves education, exam, experience and ethics requirements set by each state board of accountancy; they vary by jurisdiction and change. Programs speak carefully about this. Fordham's bulletin states that its M.S. does not meet the educational requirements for CPA licensure alone in any state, but may supplement an undergraduate degree in public accounting, with state-specific requirements applying. Bryant says its program may be applied toward the 150-hour education requirement. Cincinnati states that its degree, when added to a BBA in accounting or its equivalent, satisfies the education requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Ohio and almost all other states and jurisdictions. Three statements, three conditions. Whether a master's helps you meet a particular state's rules depends on your transcript and that state's board, so ask the board and NASBA before enrolling. Golden Gate describes a "Path2CPA" option that can satisfy the 150-hour requirement for its own undergraduate accounting students; that is the school's statement about its own pathway.

IRS practice rights. The IRS states that an enrolled agent earns the privilege of representing taxpayers before the IRS by passing a three-part test or through experience as a former IRS employee, that enrolled agents, like attorneys and CPAs, have unlimited practice rights, and that they must complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years. The steps listed include obtaining a preparer tax identification number, passing the Special Enrollment Examination within three years, applying for enrollment and passing a suitability check. A master's degree is not on that list. The IRS's Office of Professional Responsibility says Circular 230 sets rules of conduct for practice before the IRS, mainly for attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents. Verify requirements on the IRS's own pages, as these change.

Choosing a program

1. Confirm the entry route. Does the page assume an accounting degree, or does it say it welcomes other backgrounds?
2. Read the curriculum. Look for the tax topics you want, such as individual, corporate, partnership, international or state and local tax.
3. Check format and schedule. Live online, asynchronous, in-person and hybrid options differ in start dates and pacing.
4. Test the licensure claim. If the CPA matters, ask the state board whether the degree and your prior coursework fit.
5. Compare credits and length. Programs range from 30 credits to 48 quarter hours; use the school's stated figures and read what they assume.

Use compare to set programs side by side. Program details above come from school pages as of October 2026; confirm them directly.