Annual Tax Law Update 2026

Comprehensive review of 2025-2026 federal tax law changes, IRS guidance, and court decisions affecting tax practice. Covers TCJA sunset provisions, new reporting requirements, and legislative updates.

7 Units

25 minutes per unit

Curriculum Map

What You Will Learn

TCJA Sunset Analysis

Provision-by-provision analysis of what expires, what changes, and planning implications for your clients.

Court Decisions

Significant rulings from Tax Court, Circuit Courts, and the Supreme Court with practice implications.

State Conformity

How states are responding to federal changes — conformity, decoupling, and practitioner impact.

All Units

25 minutes

TCJA Sunset: What Expires and When

A provision-by-provision analysis of what expires under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and what it means for tax planning in 2026.

•Identify the major TCJA provisions scheduled to sunset after December 31, 2025
•Explain the planning implications for clients as individual rate brackets, standard deduction, personal exemptions, SALT cap, child tax credit, QBI deduction, and estate exemption revert
•Calculate the net effect of simultaneous sunsets for different client profiles

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20 minutes

New Reporting Requirements

An overview of new and expanded information reporting obligations for 2026, including digital asset reporting (1099-DA), beneficial ownership (BOI), expanded 1099-K thresholds, and energy credit changes.

•Describe the Form 1099-DA digital asset reporting requirements and practitioner responsibilities
•Explain the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting obligations under the Corporate Transparency Act
•Identify the expanded 1099-K threshold changes and how to properly report personal reimbursements
+1 more objectives

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15 minutes

Significant Court Decisions and Rulings

Key court decisions and IRS rulings from 2025-2026 with direct implications for return preparation, tax planning, and reliance on regulatory guidance.

•Explain the ongoing implications of Moore v. United States for unrealized gain taxation
•Describe how Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo affects reliance on IRS regulations and Revenue Rulings
•Identify the procedural impact of Farhy v. Commissioner on international reporting penalties
+1 more objectives

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20 minutes

Updated Standard Deduction, Brackets, and Threshold Amounts

The key numbers practitioners need for 2026 tax planning and preparation, including reverted brackets, reduced standard deductions, returning personal exemptions, and expanded AMT exposure.

•State the 2026 standard deduction amounts, personal exemption amounts, and income tax brackets for all filing statuses
•Explain the return of the Alternative Minimum Tax to broader applicability and its interaction with SALT deductions
•Identify key 2026 threshold amounts for gift tax exclusion, foreign earned income exclusion, and other common provisions

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20 minutes

Retirement Plan Contribution Limit Changes

2026 retirement plan contribution limits, SECURE 2.0 provisions taking effect, and planning strategies at the intersection of higher tax rates and retirement savings.

•State the 2026 contribution limits for 401(k), IRA, SEP-IRA, and SIMPLE plans
•Explain SECURE 2.0 provisions effective in 2026, including mandatory Roth catch-up for high earners and enhanced age 60-63 catch-up
•Analyze the interaction between TCJA sunset rate changes and the traditional vs. Roth contribution decision

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15 minutes

State Conformity Updates

How states are responding to the TCJA sunset, the continuing relevance of pass-through entity tax elections, and state-level implications of the QBI deduction expiration.

•Distinguish between rolling, fixed-date, and selective state conformity approaches
•Evaluate whether to continue or discontinue pass-through entity tax (PTET) elections after the SALT cap expiration
•Explain the state-level impact of the QBI deduction expiration based on conformity status

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20 minutes

Practice Management Implications

Practical guidance for managing a tax practice through the 2026 transition, including client communication, staffing, pricing, estimated tax exposure, and engagement letter updates.

•Develop a proactive client communication strategy for 2026 tax law changes
•Identify staffing, workflow, and pricing adjustments needed for increased return complexity
•Recognize clients at risk for estimated tax underpayment penalties and plan mitigation strategies
+1 more objectives

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