Where to Find Advanced Diploma in International Taxation Study Materials?
Hey everyone, I'm starting the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation program next month and I'm trying to get ahead on some studying. The official materials haven't been released yet, but I've heard there are some really helpful resources out there. Has anyone taken this course recently who might be willing to share what study materials were most valuable? I'm particularly interested in any practice questions or supplementary textbooks that helped you understand the complex cross-border taxation concepts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
18 comments


Isabella Ferreira
I completed the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation last year and can share some insights. The official materials are comprehensive, but I found supplementing with the IBFD Tax Research Platform incredibly valuable - it has country-specific tax treaties and case studies that align perfectly with the curriculum. For practice questions, look into "International Tax Primer" by Rohatgi and "Principles of International Taxation" by Oats, Miller & Mulligan. Both have excellent problem sets that mirror the exam style. Also, join study groups early - discussing complex scenarios with peers helped me grasp treaty interpretation much better than solo studying. Don't overlook the transfer pricing modules - they're challenging but crucial. The OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines should be your constant companion through the course.
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Ravi Sharma
•Thanks for the detailed response! I'm nervous about the transfer pricing section specifically. Did you use any specific resources for that part beyond the OECD guidelines? Also, how much time did you dedicate weekly to studying?
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Isabella Ferreira
•For transfer pricing, I used "Transfer Pricing and Business Restructurings" by Bakker as a supplement - it breaks down complex concepts with practical examples that the OECD guidelines sometimes present too theoretically. The case studies were especially helpful for understanding how to apply the arm's length principle in different scenarios. I dedicated about 15-20 hours weekly to studying, but ramped up to 25-30 hours in the final month before exams. I found creating a consistent schedule was more important than the total hours - regular engagement with the material helped concepts sink in better than cramming sessions.
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NebulaNomad
After struggling with international tax concepts for months, I finally found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my study approach for the Advanced Diploma. What's amazing is how it analyzes complex tax documents and breaks them down into understandable concepts. I uploaded some model answers from previous years that a colleague shared, and the platform created customized study notes highlighting key principles I needed to focus on. Their AI explains complex treaty articles in plain language while preserving the technical accuracy, which was exactly what I needed since the formal textbooks were overwhelming me. The interactive practice scenarios helped me understand how different tax principles interact in real-world situations.
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Freya Thomsen
•That sounds interesting but I'm skeptical about using AI for such a specialized field. How accurate is it with the nuances of international tax treaties? Doesn't seem like something an algorithm could properly understand.
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Omar Fawaz
•Does it work well for the transfer pricing modules? That's the area I'm most concerned about as I've heard it's the most difficult part of the Advanced Diploma.
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NebulaNomad
•The accuracy is impressive - it's specifically trained on international tax materials including OECD commentaries and tax treaties. It correctly identifies treaty shopping scenarios and permanent establishment thresholds that even some experienced practitioners miss. The platform even updates when new tax developments occur. For transfer pricing modules, it's extremely helpful. It walks through comparable analysis methodologies and helps create defensible documentation approaches. I was struggling with the profit split method until the platform provided step-by-step examples showing exactly how to allocate profits based on functional analysis. It made those complex concepts much more approachable.
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Omar Fawaz
Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my Advanced Diploma studies. I was the one who asked about transfer pricing modules earlier, and I'm honestly blown away by how helpful it's been. I uploaded some sample transfer pricing documentation and it immediately identified weaknesses in my functional analysis that would have cost me points on the exam. The platform also helped me understand the subtle differences between Article 7 (Business Profits) and Article 9 (Associated Enterprises) applications that I was constantly mixing up. Just saved me weeks of confusion! Their practice scenarios for permanent establishment thresholds were exactly what I needed to solidify these concepts.
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Chloe Martin
If you're struggling to find answers about specific international tax concepts for your Advanced Diploma, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was completely stuck on some complex questions about treaty interpretation and couldn't get through to my course advisor for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS international tax specialist within hours instead of the weeks I was waiting. The specialist walked me through some treaty concepts that weren't clear in the materials. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works. Honestly wish I'd known about this earlier in my studies. Being able to speak directly with someone who works with these regulations daily gave me insights no textbook could provide.
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Diego Rojas
•Wait, this sounds sketchy. How exactly does this service get you through to IRS specialists? The IRS doesn't offer consulting services for study programs.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•How much does this cost? And are the specialists actually helpful with academic questions or are they more focused on filing issues?
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Chloe Martin
•It's not sketchy at all - Claimyr doesn't promise IRS "consulting," it just helps you navigate the phone system to reach the appropriate department faster. The international tax division has specialists who can clarify how specific regulations are applied, which is incredibly valuable for understanding exam concepts. They won't do your homework, but they'll explain how provisions work in practice. The specialists were surprisingly helpful with academic questions because they deal with practical applications of the same principles you're studying. I asked about CFC attribution rules and got a much clearer explanation than my textbook provided. They even pointed me to some published rulings that had excellent examples for the concepts I was struggling with.
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Diego Rojas
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself when I got absolutely stuck on the hybrid mismatch arrangements section of my Advanced Diploma coursework. Not only did I get through to an actual IRS international department specialist, but she spent 20 minutes explaining how they approach treaty override situations in practice. The insight was invaluable - she directed me to several technical explanations published by Treasury that weren't in our course materials but contained perfect examples of what I was struggling with. She even explained how the 2017 tax law changes affected these principles. Honestly saved me hours of confused studying and probably improved my grade substantially.
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StarSeeker
Has anyone used the International Tax Review subscription as a study aid? My company has access and I'm wondering if it's worth my time to dig through their archives for relevant articles.
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Sean O'Donnell
•International Tax Review was incredibly helpful for me, especially their special reports on BEPS implementation and digital taxation. The case studies helped me connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Their transfer pricing analyses are particularly strong - look for their "Transfer Pricing Forum" section which has comparative country practices.
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StarSeeker
•Thanks for the tip about the Transfer Pricing Forum section! I've been struggling with understanding how different countries approach the comparable uncontrolled price method differently, so that sounds perfect. I'll definitely focus on the BEPS implementation articles too - that's an area where our course materials seem a bit outdated compared to current practice.
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Zara Ahmed
Is anyone else finding the Advanced Diploma impossible to balance with full-time work? I'm about ready to give up. The breadth of material is overwhelming me.
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Luca Esposito
•Don't give up! I was in your position last year. Break it into manageable chunks and focus on mastering one concept before moving to the next. I created flashcards for key treaties and principles and reviewed them during my commute. Also, don't try to memorize everything - focus on understanding the principles and knowing where to look for specific rules.
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