Taxation Work-Study Elective (WSE) – A Headstart for a Career in Tax

By Jovi MAK, Accountancy Student

The Taxation Work-Study Elective (WSE) is a 20-week internship programme that provides us with the opportunity to gain practical exposure to different areas of taxation at a professional services firm. Through the WSE, we can gain experience in areas such as tax compliance, planning and advisory, while working alongside experienced tax professionals. This also provides exposure to how companies and individuals, both domestic and international, manage their tax costs and obligations.

As part of the WSE, we alternate between working at least four days a week at our respective firms and studying on campus for one day each week. For my WSE, I was assigned to Deloitte, where I completed my 20-week internship.

Why the Taxation Work-Study Elective

I decided to apply for the Taxation WSE as I was already considering taxation as a potential career and saw the programme as a good opportunity to deepen my exposure in the field.

My interest in taxation started during my polytechnic days and continued to grow throughout my time at SMU. In particular, the Advanced Taxation module under Adjunct Lecturer, Mr Chan Wenjie, further strengthened my interest in the field. What I find interesting about tax is that it is constantly evolving, and changes in tax rules and policies can have real implications for the decisions that businesses make. This makes tax a field where there is always something new to learn, while requiring you to think about how to apply these technical rules to real-world business situations.

Another key reason the Taxation WSE appealed to me was the opportunity to undertake a longer-duration internship without having to take a Leave-of-Absence. Compared to a typical three-month summer internship, the 20-week WSE offered more time to gain practical experience and develop a deeper understanding of the work. Being with the firm for a longer period also meant I had more time to learn, could take on greater responsibilities and be involved in larger projects. At the same time, I could continue with my studies, which made the WSE particularly attractive to me.

My Role in Deloitte

I was assigned to the Business Tax team at Deloitte, which primarily provides corporate tax compliance and advisory services to companies. During the WSE, the majority of my work involved supporting the team on corporate tax compliance matters.

My responsibilities included performing client acceptance risk checks, preparing Estimated Chargeable Income filings, preparing information request lists and liaising with clients to obtain the necessary information for tax filing purposes. I also assisted in preparing tax packages for corporate income tax filings and with tax provision work.

Beyond my regular compliance work, I also had the opportunity to assist with several larger and more specialised projects. One of these involved Pillar Two registration work, which exposed me to an emerging area of international taxation arising from the implementation of the global minimum tax rules. I was also involved in a Capital Allowance Study for a client with an upcoming large capital outlay, where we analysed the client’s capital expenditure to assess the tax treatment and the capital allowances that could potentially be claimed.

Applying Classroom Knowledge in the Real World

One of my key takeaways from the Taxation WSE was observing how classroom knowledge can be applied in practice. Many of the concepts covered in the Advanced Taxation course were directly applicable to my work during the WSE. For instance, in class we engaged in due diligence simulations where we had to identify potential tax issues and ask the right questions based on the information provided. This is very applicable to actual tax work, where the information available may not always be complete from the outset and we need to ask the right questions before deciding on the appropriate tax treatment.

The WSE also reinforced my view that tax is a constantly evolving field. I experienced this firsthand while assisting with Singapore Pillar Two registration work, with 2026 being the first year in which the registration requirements applied in Singapore. As the rules were new, there were areas that required detailed discussion and careful reading of the relevant legislation to understand how the requirements should be applied in practice. It was eye-opening to see how tax professionals navigate new rules as they come into effect, in contrast to learning about established rules in a classroom setting.

Personal and Professional Growth

I was grateful for the level of trust that I was given by the Business Tax team throughout the 20 weeks. They provided me with the opportunity to contribute to larger and more specialised projects beyond my regular compliance work. For example, being involved in the Capital Allowance Study gave me a better appreciation of the tax considerations that companies may have when planning significant capital expenditure.

Beyond the technical exposure, the WSE also helped me develop professionally. As I became involved in more engagements and projects, there were periods where I had to juggle several pieces of work concurrently. This put my time management and prioritisation skills to the test, as I had to ensure I could still deliver good quality work in a timely manner.

Overall, the Tax WSE experience gave me a realistic picture of what working as a Tax Associate in a Big Four firm could be like. More importantly, having experienced both the technical and practical aspects of the work over an extended period, the WSE reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in tax.

A Word of Encouragement to SOA Students

I would encourage students to make the most of the longer duration of a WSE. Twenty weeks may sound like a long time but it passes surprisingly quickly. Be proactive in seeking opportunities to learn and take on different types of work, as the extended duration gives you the chance to gain deeper exposure.

Also, I think it is important to approach the WSE with a willingness to learn. There will naturally be things that you are unfamiliar with, so try to be independent and make an effort to understand or work through them first, but do not be afraid to ask questions or seek guidance when needed.

Lastly, I would encourage students to use the WSE as an opportunity to find out whether the field is something they can see themselves pursuing in future. The extended duration provides a more sustained experience of the work and gives you a better sense of what working in the industry is like. While in my case, the experience reinforced my interest in pursuing taxation, if you are still exploring your career interests, the WSE may just be the answer to discovering which field is the right fit for you.