ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
First Nation Tax Administration
What if we could bring prosperity back to First Nation lands?
We can. By leveraging property taxation systems, First Nations can exert their jurisdiction, regain their self-determination, and build vibrant, strong communities.
As a Tax Administrator for the First Nation government, you can lead this change.
First Nations are governments
By implementing property taxation policies, Indigenous groups are exerting their jurisdictions over their own land. The First Nations Tax Administration Certificate showcases how modern First Nation government tax policies can be used to promote economic development, grow finances, build infrastructure, and increase self-governance.
In this course, you will learn to craft and administer policies, as well as communicate tax policies and laws to Chief and council and taxpayers in a way that encourages cooperation.
This certificate comprises eight courses. Each course is delivered in a one-week intensive seminar led by an experienced Tulo Centre instructor.
What will I do with my Certificate?
First Nation tax authorities levy and collect taxes in the same manner as other local governments throughout Canada. As a First Nation Tax Administrator, you will be responsible for administering property tax policies, supporting taxpayer relations, property tax collections, and the enforcement of payment.
The First Nation Tax Administration Certificate provides the knowledge and skills needed to design and operate a taxation system similar to other governments using the powers outlined in the First Nation Fiscal Management Act.
What You’ll Learn
Upon Successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
establish the legal framework required to support a First Nation taxation system;
formulate the tax rates, user fees, development charges and business taxes used;
manage assessment and appeal processes that are fair and transparent;
prevent and resolve disputes with taxpayers and other governments;
implement First Nation taxation administrative systems including specialized software applications;
plan and finance long-term economic infrastructure projects; and,
collaborate with local governments and private partners in the delivery of services and construction of infrastructure.
Certificate Benefits
As the only property tax administration program for First Nations, this certificate provides many personal benefits, such as:
career advancement;
flexible schedule and delivery;
ability to continue working while you earn your certificate;
professional networking; and,
contributing to the success of your community.
Admission Requirements
Please see Student Application Handbook for admission requirements.
Program Delivery
This certificate comprises of eight courses which provide a general understanding of the issues in First Nation property tax administration and is intended for First Nation property tax administrators.
These courses are offered as one-week intensive seminars and are led by an experienced Tulo Centre instructor at Thompson Rivers University's campus in Kamloops, B.C.
Class sizes are small and students benefit greatly from extensive interaction with their instructor and other students who share the common goal of achieving greater financial independence for First Nations.
Certificate Courses
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST NATION TAXATION, APEC 1610
Students are provided with an overview of First Nation taxation and how it can be used to improve the investment climate and support economic development on First Nation lands. The role of government in making markets work is explained, focusing primarily on First Nation local revenue authority using the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA). Topics include the role of government in facilitating investment; the concept of property taxation; First Nation property taxation; FMA and institutions; the First Nation Goods and Services Tax (FNGST).
3 credits.
Prerequisite: None
ESTABLISHING FIRST NATION TAX RATES AND EXPENDITURES, APEC 1620
Students learn how to set First Nation property tax rates through the preparation of a local services budget and how to communicate effectively with council and taxpayers during this process. Topics include setting tax rates and expenditure policy issues; preparation of local revenue budgets; preparation of annual tax rates and expenditure laws; understanding user fees and business occupancy taxes; and communication and notification requirements under the authority of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA) or s.83 of the Indian Act. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation.
ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT APPEALS, APEC 1630
Students examine property markets with a focus on property assessments and assessment appeals in Canada under the authority of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA) or s. 83 of the Indian Act. Topics include an introduction to valuing land, assessment theory and practice,
assessment law and practice, assessment appeals, and an assessment appeal role play. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation.
ADMINISTRATION: TAX NOTICES, COLLECTION & ENFORCEMENT, APEC 1640
Students learn to manage a First Nation and/or local government tax administration system focusing on taxpayer notification and local revenue billing, collection and enforcement. Best practices from systems across Canada are presented along with the regulatory requirements associated with the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA). Significant time is devoted to using the First Nations Tax Commission’s (FNTC) specialized Tax Administration System (TAS) for local revenue administration. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation, Establishing First Nation Tax Rates and Expenditures.
COMMUNICATIONS, TAXPAYER RELATIONS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION, APEC 1650
Students examine how to establish a mutually beneficial working relationship between First Nation tax authorities and taxpayers. Topics include communications planning and products; reaching agreement through consensus; taxpayer representation structures and laws; local dispute resolution; and the formal dispute resolution process from the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA). 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation, Establishing First Nation Tax Rates & Expenditures, Assessment and Assessment Appeals, Administration: Tax Notices, Collection & Enforcement.
SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND JOINT CONTRACTS, APEC 1660
Students examine how to develop service agreements and joint contracts for the delivery of services or the construction of infrastructure involving local governments and/or private partners. Topics include service agreements; contracting; service agreement calculations and negotiations; interest-based negotiations; service agreements for additions to reserves (ATR) and treaty land entitlement (TLE) settlements; and a service agreement case study. Students utilize tools developed by the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC) to assist in service agreement negotiations. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation, Establishing First Nation Tax Rates and Expenditures.
DEVELOPMENT COST CHARGES, APEC 1670
Students learn to establish fair and transparent development cost charge (DCC) and service tax (ST) systems for First Nations or local governments under the authority of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA) and the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC). These systems are intended to support the financing of infrastructure and service improvements. Topics include
options for First Nation community financing infrastructure; developing First Nation DDC and ST laws; implementing First Nation DCC and ST laws; and DCC and ST case studies. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation, Establishing First Nation Tax Rates and Expenditures.
CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEBENTURE FINANCING, APEC 1680
Students learn how to plan, cost, and finance local government infrastructure projects using longterm debentures in the First Nation Fiscal Management Act (FMA). They also examine the legal, planning and policy requirements established by the First Nation Finance Authority (FNFA), the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC) and the First Nations Financial Management Board
(FMB) as well as best practices in economic, capital and financial planning. Topics include economic infrastructure; economic strategy; integrated capital planning; capital financing and borrowing; borrowing laws and procedures; and a case study in infrastructure financing. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Introduction to First Nation Taxation, Establishing First Nation Tax Rates & Expenditures, Assessment and Assessment Appeals, Administration: Tax Notices, Collection & Enforcement, Communications, Taxpayer Relation and Dispute Resolution.
Benefits to the First Nation
As the only property tax administration program for First Nations, this certificate provides many community benefits:
trust that you have a sound property tax system;
maximize benefits from FMA legislation;
ability to make tax and public policy decisions that support economic development;
attain a competitive advantage and leadership position in the area of economic development;
provide services and certainty to investors;
build competitive economic infrastructure; and,
establish an attractive investment climate on reserve.
“My experience with Tulo has truly been an eye-opener as a young First Nations person. It is great to be a part of such vision and to participate in longer capacity-building and higher learning.
The knowledge I have gained through Tulo will stay with me and guide me in my vision of creating success stories on First Nation lands where I come from.”
Tulo Graduate
