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2026 Annual Tax Season Update - Mirrors the IRS-AFTR (Course Id 2575)

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Author : Paul Winn, CLU, ChFC
Course Length : Pages: 166 ||| Word Count: 51,487 ||| Review Questions: 31 ||| Final Exam Questions: 43
CPE Credits : 8.5
IRS Credits : 8
Price : $76.45
Passing Score : 70%
Course Type: NASBA QAS - Text - NASBA Registry - IRS Enrolled Agents - Registered Tax Return Preparers
Technical Designation: Technical
Primary Subject-Field Of Study:

Taxes - Taxes for Course Id 2575

Description :

Please Note: This course covers tax issues applicable to 2025 income reported in the 2026 tax season.

Each year, income tax return preparation is affected by inflation-related changes to various limits and new tax laws. This course will look at those changes and new laws.    

The 2026 Annual Tax Season Update course is based on the Annual Federal Tax Refresher course and is designed to provide valuable information to persons preparing individual 1040 income tax returns reflecting clients’ 2025 income.  It does not, however, satisfy the Internal Revenue Service’s voluntary annual filing season program.

The course a) examines new tax law and changes in various limits that reflect inflation, b) provides a general tax review, and c) discusses important rules governing tax return preparer ethics, practices and procedures.

Usage Rank : 0
Release : 2026
Version : 1.0
Prerequisites : None.
Experience Level : Overview
Additional Contents : Complete, no additional material needed.
Additional Links :
Advance Preparation : None.
Delivery Method : QAS Self Study
Intended Participants : Anyone needing Continuing Professional Education (CPE).
Revision Date : 10-Jul-2025
NASBA Course Declaration : Participants must complete the final examination within one year of purchase and with a minimum passing grade of 70% or better to receive CPE credit unless otherwise noted on the Course History page (i.e. California Ethics must score 90% or better). After logging in click on the Course History links on your My Courses page for the Begin date and Expire date for the Final Exam.
Approved Audience :

NASBA QAS - Text - NASBA Registry - IRS Enrolled Agents - Registered Tax Return Preparers - 2575

Keywords : Taxes, 2026, Annual, Tax, Season, Update, Mirrors, IRS-AFTR, cpe, cpa, online course
Learning Objectives :

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, a tax return preparer should be able to:
  • Identify the principal individual income tax changes brought about by recent legislation;
  • Apply the inflation-adjusted and other limits to the proper preparation of taxpayers’ income tax returns;
  • Recognize the federal income tax filing statuses and the criteria for their use;
  • Identify the types of income that must be recognized;
  • Apply the tax rules to the various credits and adjustments to income that are available to taxpayers;
  • Recognize the penalties that may be imposed on a preparer for failing to meet ethical and practice standards in preparing tax returns; and
  • Identify the duties and restrictions imposed on tax preparers under Circular 230.

Chapter 1
New Tax Law/Recent Updates

When you have completed the chapter 1 text, you should be able to:
  • Identify the inflation and cost of living adjustments to various federal limits;
  • Recognize the applicable optional standard mileage rates;
  • Describe the Third Party Network Transaction reporting requirements;
  • Identify the salient features of the Direct File Pilot Program;
  • Recognize the SECURE 2.0 Act provisions affecting -
      o Catch-up contribution rules, and
      o Increased age of eligibility for the onset blindness or disability for qualified ABLE programs effective for tax years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Chapter 2
General Income Tax Review I

When you have completed the Chapter 2 text, you should be able to:
  • Describe the criteria for filing as qualifying surviving spouse;
  • Identify those items included in a taxpayer’s taxable earnings;
  • Determine the tax treatment of foreign accounts and trusts; and
  • Apply the rules governing contributions to and distributions from various retirement accounts.

Chapter 3
General Income Tax Review II

When you have completed the chapter 3 text, you should be able to:
  • Describe the reporting and taxability of unemployment compensation;
  • Determine the tax treatment of business income and expenses;
  • Distinguish between the actual expense method and simplified method of figuring the home-office deduction;
  • List the expenses normally deductible by taxpayers using a home for business purposes who use the actual expense method;
  • Recognize the limits applicable to a home-office deduction.
  • Distinguish between a hobby and a business for tax purposes; and
  • Recognize various property depreciation eligibility requirements and limits.

Chapter 4
General Income Tax Review III

When you have completed the chapter 4 text, you should be able to:
  • List the factors considered in determining the tax treatment of capital gains and losses;
  • Identify standard deduction eligibility and amounts;
  • Determine the eligibility for and limits applicable to the moving expense deduction;
  • Understand the recordkeeping and documentation requirements applicable to the claiming of deductions;
  • Recognize the eligibility requirements for various tax credits; and
  • Describe the eligibility requirements for and limits applicable to education credits.

Chapter 5
General Income Tax Review IV

When you have completed the chapter 5 text, you should be able to:
  • Determine the eligibility for, and amount of, the Earned Income Tax Credit;
  • Recognize modifications to the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit;
  • Identify changes to the Residential Clean Energy Property Credit;
  • Identify income-based EV tax credit limitations;
  • Apply the special rules applicable to a previously-owned clean vehicle; and
  • Describe the Clean Vehicle Credits authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Chapter 6
General Income Tax Review V

When you have completed the chapter 6 text, you should be able to
  • Identify the rules governing the income tax treatment of virtual currency events and transactions;
  • Recognize the aggregation rules applicable to the §199A deduction;
  • Identify the trades or businesses considered specified service trades or businesses (SSTBs) that may be ineligible for the pass-through deduction;
  • Recognize the eligibility requirements for the Premium Tax Credit;
  • Describe the rules governing HSA and MSA eligibility and contribution limits;
  • Recognize the options available to a taxpayer for paying any income tax due or receiving an income tax refund; and
  • Identify the due dates of income tax returns.

Chapter 7
Practices, Procedures & Professional Responsibility

When you have completed the chapter 7 text, you should be able to:
  • Identify the red flags indicating possible tax-related identity theft and suggested assistance to its victims;
  • Understand the laws and regulations requiring privacy and security of taxpayer data and the best practices tax preparers may implement to help assure it;
  • Describe the purpose of individual taxpayer identification numbers, their effect on tax credits and how to renew them;
  • Recognize the penalties applicable to a tax return preparer under Title 26;
  • Identify the due diligence requirements imposed on tax return preparers with respect to claiming head of household filing status, EITC, CTC and AOTC;
  • Understand the e-file requirements; and
  • Recognize the Annual Filing Season Program requirements.

Course Contents :

Course Learning Objectives

Introduction to the Course

Chapter 1 - New Tax Law/Recent Updates

Chapter 1 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Annual Inflation Adjustments

Education Expenses of Elementary and Secondary School Teachers

Income Limitation for a Qualifying Relative

Interest on Education Loans

Amounts Included as Interest

Student Loan Interest Deduction

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

Earnings Excluded in Foreign Earned Income

Limitation on Foreign Earned Income

Unified Credit Against Estate Tax

Annual Exclusion for Gifts

Education Savings Bond Program

Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums and Benefits

Tax-Qualified Long Term Care Insurance Benefits Tax-Free within Limits

Adoption Credit Benefit and Phase-Out

AMT Exemption for Child Subject to Kiddie Tax

Capital Gains and Losses – Changes for 2025

Average Annual Wage Limitation

Threshold for Excessive Business Loss

Social Security Limits

Standard Mileage Rates

Business Use of a Taxpayer’s Personal Vehicle

Personal Vehicle Use for Charitable Purposes

Use of a Taxpayer’s Personal Vehicle to Obtain Medical Care

Basis Reduction Amount

Payment Card and Third-Party Transaction Reporting Requirements

Transactions that Require Reporting

Transactions not Requiring Reporting

Reporting Sale of Personal Items

IRS Direct File Program

Participating States

Eligible Identification

Eligible Income

Direct File and the Standard Deduction

Direct File Eligibility based on Health Insurance Coverage Status

Direct File and ID.me

Higher Catch-up Contribution Limits for Individuals Aged 60 -63

Qualified ABLE Programs Increased Age of Onset for 2026 and Later

Summary

Chapter 1 Review Questions

Chapter 1 Review Questions Feedback

Chapter 2 - General Income Tax Review I

Chapter 2 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Filing Status Name Review

Benefits of Filing as Qualifying Surviving Spouse

Criteria for Filing as Qualifying Surviving Spouse

Exceptions and Special Circumstances

Income Limitation for a Qualifying Relative

Taxability of Earnings

Advance Commissions and Other Earnings

Allowances and Reimbursements

Back Pay Awards

Bonuses and Awards

Differential Wage Payments

Government Cost of Living Allowances

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

Notes Received for Services

Severance Pay

Sick Pay

Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid by an Employer

Stock Appreciation Rights

Tip Income

Schedule B, Interest, Dividends, Foreign Accounts and Trusts

Retirement Income Reporting and Taxability

Social Security Benefits

Taxability of Benefits

Reporting

Qualified Retirement Plans

Contributions to Qualified Employee Plans

Employee Plan Contributions

Qualified Retirement Plan Distributions

Early Distributions

Required Qualified Plan Minimum Distributions

Qualified Plan Rollovers

Plan Death Benefits

Designated Roth Account Distributions

Qualified Roth Account Distributions Tax-Free

Nonqualified Roth Account Distributions

Annuities

Nonqualified Annuity

Individual Retirement Accounts

Traditional IRAs – Contributions & Distributions

Premature Distributions

Premature Distributions Avoiding Tax Penalty

Required Distributions during Owner’s Lifetime

Roth IRAs

Limits on Roth IRA Contributions

Non-Qualified Roth IRA Distributions of Gain before 59 ½ Subject to Tax Penalty

No Required Roth IRA Lifetime Distributions

IRA Rollover Per-Year Limit

Summary

Chapter 2 Review Questions

Chapter 2 Review Questions Feedback

Chapter 3 - General Income Tax Review II

Chapter 3 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Reporting and Taxability of Unemployment Compensation

Unemployment Compensation Taxable

Nondeductible Contributions to Governmental Unemployment Compensation Plan

Repayment of Unemployment Compensation

Alimony – Pre 2019 and Post 2018 Divorce Agreements

Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship)

Income & Expenses Defined

Business vs. Hobby

Business Use of a Home

Methods of Figuring the Home-Office Deduction

Actual Expense Method

Simplified Method

Recordkeeping Requirements

Gross Receipts

Inventory

Expenses

Entertainment Expenses

Exceptions to Food and Beverage Expenses

Section 179 Expense Limits

Depreciation

Bonus Depreciation

Qualified Property

Luxury Auto Depreciation Limits

Listed Property Updates

Deduction for Employees

Business-use Requirement

Passenger Automobile Limits and Rules

Summary

Chapter 3 Review Questions

Chapter 3 Review Questions Feedback

Chapter 4 - General Income Tax Review III

Chapter 4 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Capital Gains and Losses

Short-Term and Long-Term Capital Gains and Losses

Reporting Capital Gains and Losses

IRS Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets

Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses

Standard Deduction Eligibility

Standard Deduction Amounts

Standard Deduction for Blind and Senior Taxpayers

Standard Deduction Summary

Itemized Deductions Schedule A

Medical and Dental Expenses

State and Local Tax Deduction

Home Mortgage Interest and Home Equity Loans

Indebtedness Refinancing

Charitable Contributions

60% AGI Limit for Cash Contributions

Contemporaneous Written Acknowledgement

Content and Timing of Contemporaneous Written Acknowledgement

Casualty Loss Deduction

Special Rules for Qualified Disaster-Related Personal Casualty Losses

Moving Expense Deduction

Moving Expenses in Active Military Relocations

Recordkeeping and Documentation of Deductions

Tax Credit Eligibility

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit Phaseout and Nonrefundable Amounts

Social Security Number Requirement

Credit for Other Dependents

Limits on the CTC and ODC

Claiming CTC and ODC

Additional Child Tax Credit

Child and Dependent Care Credit

Eligible Care Recipients Limited to Qualifying Persons

Eligible Taxpayers

Education Credits

American Opportunity Credit

Figuring the American Opportunity Credit

Lifetime Learning Credit

Figuring the Lifetime Learning Credit

Summary

Chapter 4 Review Questions

Chapter 4 Review Questions Feedback

Chapter 5 - General Income Tax Review IV

Chapter 5 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Earned Income Tax Credit

Adjusted Gross Income Limits

Valid Social Security Number Required

Tax Filing Status

Separated Spouses

Citizenship or Residency

EITC Rules That Apply Only if the Taxpayer Has a Qualifying Child

EITC Rules That Apply if Taxpayer Does Not Have a Qualifying Child

Energy Credits

Modified Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit

Qualified Energy Efficiency Improvements

Energy Efficient Building Envelope Component

Tax Credit Limitations

Qualified Energy Property

Heat Pumps and Heat Pump Water Heaters

Biomass Stoves and Boilers

Oil Furnace and Hot Water Boilers

Panelboard, Circuity Replacements, or Improvements

Residential Energy Property Expenditures

Eligible Fuel

Home Energy Audits

Subsidized Energy Financing

Tax Credits Reduce Taxpayer’s Basis

Product Identification Number Required

Qualified Manufacturer/Identification Number

Effective Dates

Modifications to the Residential Clean Energy Property Credit

Extension of the Credit

Credit Phaseout

Battery Storage Technology Expenditures

New Clean Vehicle Credit

New Clean Vehicle Tax Credit Requirements

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price Affects Tax Credit Eligibility

Income-Based EV Tax Credit Limitations

Transfer of Credit

Special Rules Applicable to New Clean Vehicle Credit

Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle Credit

Income-Based EV Tax Credit Limitations

Transfer of Credit

Special Rules Applicable to a Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle

Revenue Procedure 2023-33

Summary

Chapter 5 Review Questions

Chapter 5 Review Questions Feedback

Chapter 6 - General Income Tax Review V

Chapter 6 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Tax Treatment of Virtual Currency

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption Amount Increased

QBI Deduction

Deduction Eligibility

Pass-Through Deduction Generally Limited to Qualified Trade or Business

Qualified Trade or Business

IRS Forms for Qualified Business Income Deduction – 8995 & 8995-A

Qualified Business Income Deduction Simplified Computation - Form 8995

Qualified Business Income Deduction - Form 8995-A

Rental Real Estate Safe Harbor

Kiddie Tax – Unearned Income of Minor Children

Kiddie Tax Applicability

Alternative Minimum Tax

Section 529 Plans

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account

Tax-Deferred Account

ABLE Account Distributions

ABLE Account Contributions

TCJA Changes to ABLE Accounts

Additional Designated Beneficiary Contributions Permitted

Saver’s Credit

Discharge of Student Loan Indebtedness

Net Operating Loss (NOL)

Premium Tax Credit

Federal Poverty Level

Amount of the Credit

Benchmark Plan

Additional Tax Limitation

Health Insurance Marketplace Statements

Employee Fringe Benefits

Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits

Medical Savings Accounts

Archer MSA Tax Benefits

Archer MSA Eligibility

Archer MSA Pilot Program Ended

High Deductible Health Plan Requirement

Archer MSA Contributions

Health Savings Accounts

HSA Benefits

HSA Eligibility

HSA High Deductible Health Plan Requirement

HSA Contributions

HSA Contributions from Multiple Sources

Additional Contributions for Age 55 and Older Account Holders

Health Flexible Spending Arrangement Contributions

Depreciation of Rental Property

General Depreciation System vs Alternative Depreciation System

Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Payments

Tax Withholding

Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate

Exemption from Withholding

Penalties

Withholding from Nonwage Income

Estimated Tax

Requirement to Pay Estimated Tax

Balance Due and Refund Options

Payment of Income Tax Owed

Refunds

Limit on Direct Deposit Refunds

Federal Income Tax Return Filing Due Dates and Filing for Extensions

Calendar Year and Fiscal Year Taxpayers

Extensions of Time to File

Automatic Extension of Time to File

Individuals Outside the United States

Individuals Serving in a Combat Zone

Summary

Chapter 6 Review Questions

Chapter 6 Review Questions Feedback

Chapter 7 - Practices, Procedures & Professional Responsibility

Chapter 7 Learning Objectives

Introduction

Tax Related Identity Theft (Publication 5199)

Assisting Victims of Identity Theft

Safeguarding Taxpayer Data (Publication 4557)

Laws and Regulations Requiring Privacy/Security

Best Practices to Safeguard Data

Extended Validation SSL Certificate

External Vulnerability Scan

Information Privacy and Safeguard Policies

Protection Against Bulk Filing of Fraudulent Income Tax Returns

Public Domain Name Registration

Reporting of Security Incidents

Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers

Who Needs an ITIN?

ITIN Renewals

Preparer Penalties

Due Diligence in Tax Preparation

Head of Household Filing Status

Taxpayer Considered Unmarried

Required Marriage Test Supporting Documents

Keeping up the Taxpayer’s Home

Required Keeping Up a Home Test Supporting Documents

Qualifying Person

Qualifying Child

Required Qualifying Person Test Supporting Documents

Common Head of Household Errors

Earned Income Tax Credit

EITC Due Diligence Requirements

Most Common EITC Errors

Education Tax Credits

Most Common AOTC Errors

Child Tax Credit

Most Common CTC/ACTC/ODC Errors

Compliance with E-file Procedures

Affected Tax Return Preparers

Timing of Taxpayer Signature

Timing of Filing

Recordkeeping

Prohibited Filing with Pay Stub

Proper Handling of Rejects

Annual Filing Season Program Requirements

Consent to Adhere to Circular 230 Requirements

Tax Return Preparer Duties and Restrictions

AFSP Participants’ Limited Representation Rights

Summary

Chapter 7 Review Questions

Chapter 7 Review Questions Feedback

Appendix A

Appendix B

Glossary

Click to go to: CPE Tax Courses | CPA Tax Courses Online | CPE Think
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