Build in-demand skills in Canadian tax compliance and planning
Explore the fundamental principles and management of Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST), Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), Quebec Sales Tax (QST), and Retail Sales Taxes across Canada.
This professional development program is designed for individuals responsible for administering indirect taxes within their organizations, as well as financial services professionals such as accountants and bookkeepers who want to offer clients deeper insights into tax risks and obligations.
Virtual Classroom
Approx. 3-4 hours per week, per course
Microcredential: 10 weeks Certificate of Completion: 8+ months
Schedule and fees
Open enrolment
This professional development program is geared towards:
Gaining an understanding of Canadian Indirect Taxes expands your existing opportunities within Finance and Accounting, including:
The flexibility of the course helped me a lot to balance my work.
The flexibility of the course helped me a lot to balance my work. Our field in data is continuously changing. I found that sweet balance in terms of the focus of the course. It’s a life cycle of how the data is coming in all the way to make it a service or a product. The course gives you that 360 spectrum.
[Cultivating Creative Thinking] pushed me to think differently, to get out of my comfort zone, and approach challenges with fresh ideas.
I graduated in Computer Engineering and had some solid experience under my belt, but I always felt there was a gap between what I learned in school and the challenges I faced in the real world. I wanted to develop skills that weren’t just theoretical but practical—something I could use every day to solve real problems.
That’s when I heard about McMaster Continuing Education through my workplace. Their programs had a great reputation, so I decided to enroll in the “Cultivating Creative Thinking” course. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
The course pushed me to think differently, to get out of my comfort zone, and approach challenges with fresh ideas. The practical focus was exactly what I was looking for, and the instructors were so supportive and knowledgeable. What made the experience even better was the flexibility—fitting it into my schedule was surprisingly manageable. Plus, connecting with my classmates and learning from their perspectives made the journey even more rewarding.
For me, continuing education is about more than just learning new things. It’s about staying curious, growing as a person, and constantly adapting to the world around you. My time at McMaster helped me do exactly that—it gave me the tools and confidence to align my learning with my goals.
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about continuing education, it’s this: focus on real-world skills and always keep an open mind. Growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing the opportunities to learn and improve.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career. I found that the Business Administration program was really the best fit for me, because the learning that I was able to take in through this program was really cutting edge and current to the labour market. The learning that I took on is something I use every day.
Explore the requirements below and register today!
Earn your Certificate of Completion in Canadian Indirect Taxes by completing all three required courses listed below.
Upon successfully completing a virtual (live/synchronous) course in this program, you will receive a microcredential recognizing your learning achievement. Complete all three virtual (live/synchronous) microcredentials to earn the digital certificate of completion.
$629.00
(Currently Not Available)
Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March. Program Requirements: Review certificate or diploma tab. Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone. Course Fees: A McMaster Part Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses. There is no tax on courses unless indicated at the bottom of the schedule chart. Additional Fees: New students pay a one-time, non-refundable $39 activation fee for their first academic-credit course. Not every program or course requires textbooks. Learn more about textbooks. Learning Formats: Each course is offered in Online, Online Self-Study, or Virtual Classroom formats, as shown below. Visit Learning Formats for details.
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If English is not your native language, you must meet McMaster University’s English proficiency requirements by either qualifying for an exemption or passing a McMaster-approved English test. You will not need to provide proof of meeting this English requirement prior to registration. If you demonstrate English proficiency below the required standard, you will be asked to provide proof or to withdraw.
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.