Making the best use of the tax tables in your TX-variant exam

When preparing for a TX-variant exam, it is essential that you become familiar with the reference information provided to you within the exam, and that you are able to make the best use of this when answering questions.

This reference material, commonly known as the ‘tax tables’, is a schedule of rates and allowances relevant to the tax year which is being examined in that particular session.

Efficient use of the tax tables within the exam can:

• Reduce the amount of information you need to learn
• Improve the accuracy of your answers
• Reduce demands upon your time

Where do I find the TX-variant tax tables before the exam?

As the tax tables are different for each exam year, you should ensure that you have access to the version applicable to the exam session you will be sitting.

View the most recent TX-variant tax tables

The name of the PDF document will contain the exam sessions to which it relates to assist you in selecting the correct one.

How do I make the best use of the tax tables?

Get into the habit of using the tax tables when practising questions, thereby:

• Familiarising yourself with the content
• Applying them appropriately
• Avoid wasting your study time committing unnecessary details to memory

If you always have the tax tables easily available when practising questions, you will get accustomed to using them.

It is equally important to understand which information is not included within the tax tables, so that you make sure to learn this, and are not searching the tax tables during your exam for information which isn’t included.

Take the time to become used to working with an onscreen version of the tax tables as your exam date approaches. You can do this using the ACCA Practice Platform, which replicates the test environment that you will experience on exam day, including the way in which the tax tables are accessed.

Access the Practice Platform

Where do I find the tax tables during my exam?

The tax tables can be accessed at any point in the exam by clicking on the Help/Tax tables icon located at the bottom left of the main question screen.

This takes you to the standard Help screen, which contains three tabs along the top. Clicking on the second of these tabs will open the tax tables (Please note that the screenshot below is for illustrative purposes only).

Within the exam, the TX tax tables will be presented as a single continuous document, and you can use the right hand scroll button to move down through the full content. In addition, the icons along the top of the screen offer the following functionality:

Standard CBE functionality applies to the window in which the tables are displayed meaning that it can be resized and moved around the screen such that it is still visible when other parts of the question are being viewed, or work on the answer is underway (cascaded or tiled).

Additional help and support on other aspects of the Practice Platform

Is there anything else I need to know?

• The information provided in the tax tables is based on a particular tax year and you should assume that those rates remain the same for any past or future tax years, or accounting periods, unless the question tells you otherwise. You will be reminded of this assumption in the introductory screens in your CBE.
• There are certain factual details which are included in the tax tables which can provide you with very useful assistance when attempting questions.
• Remember, the TX tax tables have been specifically compiled for your syllabus; if you are unsure of the relevance of a particular piece of information provided within the tables, you should aim to go back and review it in your study material, since it may well indicate a gap in your underlying knowledge.
• If you are deferring or retaking an exam, especially in a different exam cycle, be sure to locate and familiarise yourself with the most up to date tax tables, as the tax year which is examinable will have changed.