Staying up to date now requires not only strong technical tax knowledge, but also a solid understanding of data, automation and emerging technologies, as well as the legal and ethical frameworks governing their use.
The Professional Certificate in Tax & Technology course is a comprehensive programme designed to bridge the gap between traditional tax expertise and the digital skills required in modern tax practice. It combines theoretical and conceptual insight with practical application, equipping participants to work confidently with data analytics, automation and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in a tax context.
"Taxation no longer takes place solely within legislation, but in databases, algorithms and reporting systems."
- Prof A.H. (Albert) Bomer, Professor of Tax & Technology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The course in short
- Number of modules: six modules
- Location and dates: this course is fully online. You can complete the modules at your own pace, at your own convenience.
- Availability: modules 1 and 2 are available from 10 June 2026, modules 3 and 4 from 15 July and modules 5 and 6 from 15 September. After 15 September, all modules will be available.
- Language: English
- Price: € 2.105,- for the full course
Who is this programme for?
This programme is ideal for tax professionals (worldwide) who want to strengthen their knowledge in both tax and technology. Whether you work in direct or indirect tax, compliance or consulting, this certification will prepare you for the future of your profession.
Admission requirements
This course is at an academic level.
No further prior knowledge or preparation is required. You do not need to have in-depth knowledge of specific tax areas or have completed technical training.
Topics
This programme covers the following topics:
- Relevant taxtech terminology and most common tools
- (Big) data basics and relevant concepts
- Legal and ethical frameworks
- Data collection and exchange, incl. reporting obligations
- Data storage, incl. data security
- Data analysis, incl. data governance
- Data quality and quality control
- Statistical reasoning, predictions, risk selection instruments and data visualization
- Risk assessment, risk selection and automated auditing
- Data reporting (incl. e-reporting), automated processing and forecasting
- (Automated) decision-making, incl. human-machine interaction
- The use of AI by tax authorities in setting up supervision, and by taxpayers in analysing tax data
- Introducing LLMs and agents at work, incl. make-or-buy decision, project/change management and implementation
Learning objectives
After completing this certificate programme, you will be able to:
- Explain the impact that major developments in the field of taxation (e.g. regarding data exchange) have on technology, and vice versa;
- Indicate where which and how technologies are commonly used in the field the taxation;
- Recognize the role technology plays for different professions and tax specializations (e.g. direct/indirect tax);
- Discuss the regulatory and ethical frameworks that set the boundaries for tech application in the field of taxation, esp. in the European Union (EU);
- Identify proper (big) data handling and describe how emerging technologies, such as AI, work;
- Apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to meet real-live challenges of using (advanced) technologies at work;
- The use of AI in analysing tax data;
- Implement a new technology (LLM) at work to optimize tax processes.
Lecturers involved
The modules are taught by lecturers from science and practice:
- Albert Bomer
Full Professor of Tax & Technology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Menno M.A. Griffioen
Assistent Professor of Tax & Technology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Tax Policy Advisor at the Dutch Tax Authorities - Oscar Smeets
Lecturer of Tax & Technology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Tax advisor at Deloitte Tax & Legal - John Gruson
Lecturer of Tax & Technology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Tax advisor at Deloitte Tax & Legal - Alexandra Vasilache
Lecturer and researcher Tax & Technology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Manager Indirect Taxes at Nutreco - Arnold Roza
Lecturer of Tax & Technology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Senior Director PwC Netherlands
Interested?
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers this course in cooperation with the International Bureau Fiscal Documentation (IBFD). More information on thise course can be found on the IBFD website, where you can also register for the course.
