Tax Preparation and Law

Explore what's new in tax preparation and law, with emphasis on updates relevant to practice.

Learn when you must file a 2025 federal tax return and how refundable credits and withholdings can yield a refund even with low income, with IRS free file tools.

E-file to receive an electronic acknowledgement and avoid penalties; for tax year 2025 file and pay by April 15, 2026, with form 4868 extensions and combat zone or abroad rules.

Build an interactive Excel tax formula that mirrors Form 1040, linking income, adjustments to income, and deductions across multiple sheets to visualize the tax calculation and enable data input checks.

Explore building a transparent tax formula worksheet in Excel that mirrors form 1040, calculates AGI, deductions, and taxes, and reconciles data with tax software for internal control.

Learn how filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, head of household, married filing separately, and qualified surviving spouse shape standard deductions and tax calculations on form 1040, income and dependents.

Ensure accurate name and social security number matching on form 1040 for tax year 2025 to prevent processing delays; Keep consistent name order for joint filers and update addresses.

Ensure accurate social security number reporting on tax forms, align names with ssn across w-2 and 1099 data, and learn itin options to avoid e-file delays when ssn is unavailable.

Learn how the 2025 standard deduction sets filing-status based amounts, when to itemize, and how age, blindness, and dependents modify your deduction, with practical examples.

Analyze the standard deduction and its interaction with filing status on form 1040, including single, head of household, and married filing jointly, and when itemized deductions exceed the standard.

Explore who qualifies as a dependent and how that status affects filing status, standard deduction, and credits like the child tax credit and credit for other dependents through practical scenarios.

Explore how W-2 and 1099 income forms drive income reporting, enforcement, and tax calculations, from the income line through deductions, credits, and refunds.

Explore how gross income feeds line one of Form 1040, distinguish above-the-line adjustments and deductions, and compute taxable income, including capital gains, QBI, and exclusions.

Learn how to report income on income line 1, including W-2 wages and tip income, for tax preparation and law.

Identify form 1040 interest sections, distinguishing line 2a from line 2b. Learn schedule B triggers when total interest exceeds 1,500, 1099-INT reporting, timing, foreign and nominee interest, and back-up withholding.

Walk through interest income on Form 1040, including Schedule B and 1099-INT, distinguishing taxable and tax-exempt interest and their impact on AGI and deductions.

Analyze how dividend income is reported on Form 1040 line 3A and 3B, including qualified vs ordinary dividends, and the role of 1099-DIV and Schedule B.

Understand dividend income reporting and taxation, distinguishing ordinary and qualified dividends using 1099-DIV and schedule B, and relate it to AGI and standard deduction in tax prep.

Explore how IRA distributions affect taxable income on Form 1040, including 1099-R reporting, withholdings, and planning for rollovers and exceptions to minimize taxes in retirement.

Explore pensions and annuities on form 1040, focusing on line 5a and 5b, the taxable portion, 1099‑R reporting, and pre‑/post‑tax contributions and rollovers.

Analyze how pensions and annuities are reported on Form 1099-R and entered on Form 1040, including withholdings, early distributions penalties, and rollovers to retirement accounts.

Explore how Social Security benefits are taxed in the federal income tax, using combined income, thresholds, and the 0–50–85 percent rules, with Form SSA 1099 and Form 1040 guidance.

Explore how social security benefits affect tax returns, including AGI, standard deduction, and the 85 percent inclusion rule, using form 1040 and SSA 1099 data.

Explain when state and local tax refunds are treated as income under the tax benefit rule, depending on prior year itemized deductions, salt limits, and Form 1099-G reporting.

Determine when state and local income tax refunds are taxable on the federal return, considering 1099-G reporting, itemized versus standard deductions, and the salt cap.

Most alimony received is not taxable under 2025 rules; only pre-2019 agreements or qualified modifications require reporting on Schedule 1.

Explain how alimony received is reported on form 1040 via schedule one and its effect on taxable income. Compare old and new rules around the 2019 cutoff and contract dates.

Examine 3322 business income or loss and other gains or losses with examples to guide tax preparation and law.

Unemployment compensation is taxable income reported on Form 1099-G and Schedule 1, flowing to Form 1040 line 8, with optional withholdings to avoid penalties.

Unemployment compensation flows to schedule 1 and form 1040, affecting taxable income and tax, while withholding and estimated payments (driven by 1099-G data) influence penalties.

Explore other income in tax preparation and law, part 1, introducing core concepts and practical considerations.

Examine capital gain or loss concepts and their impact on tax returns, including calculation, reporting, and practical considerations.

Demonstrates capital gain or loss calculation through a practical example, clarifying reporting steps for taxpayers and the tax treatment of gains and losses.

Claim educator expenses as an above-the-line deduction on Schedule 1, reducing AGI. The $300 cap for eligible K-12 educators covers unreimbursed classroom supplies and health and safety items.

Explore educator expenses as above-the-line deductions that lower AGI and taxable income, illustrated with single and married cases and the $300 (up to $600 for two teachers) cap.

Identify above-the-line adjustments to income for reservists, performing artists, and fee-based officials, detailing unreimbursed business expenses deductible on Schedule 1 and their impact on AGI.

Explain above-the-line adjustments for reservists, performing artists, and fee-based officials using form 2106 on schedule one, and compare w-2 expenses with schedule c deductions.

Cover 4050 HSA, moving expenses, and the deductible part of self-employment tax, along with key self-employment concepts for tax preparation and law.

Explore how HSAs, moving expenses, and the deductible part of self-employment tax affect tax preparation for the self-employed.

Explore the self-employed health insurance deduction as an above-the-line adjustment, detailing Schedule 1, AGI impact, eligibility rules, and complex employer and spousal coverage interactions.

Explore alimony and IRA deduction within tax preparation and law, highlighting eligibility, limits, and filing implications for individuals.

Analyze an example showing how alimony payments interact with IRA deductions in tax preparation and law, highlighting rules and practical implications.

Learn how to determine eligibility and apply the student loan interest deduction within tax preparation and law, including its limits and impact on returns.

Explore how to input student loan interest deductions on form 1040 and schedule one, including AGI adjustments and phase-out calculations.

Explore how to use the catch-all category on schedule 1 line 24 for other adjustments to income, including jury duty pay and documenting 1099s with the IRS.

Explore medical and dental expenses in tax preparation and law, part 1. Review 5030 medical and dental expenses in tax preparation and law.

Present a concise overview of 5044 taxes you paid within tax preparation and law, clarifying its scope and relevance for tax filers.

Learn why and how to learn tax law and master income tax preparation for 2023–2024, staying compliant while legally minimizing taxes.

Learn strategies for mastering income tax law, focusing on specialization, formula-based learning, and using Form 1040, Excel, and tax software to prepare individual returns.

Evaluate income tax software options for 2023 and 2024, comparing professional versus individual tools and their impact on forms like Form 1040.

Explore free tax tools for 2023–2024, including IRS Free File, guided software, and fillable forms, and learn how to estimate withholdings, run scenarios, and compare software options.

Explore flat, progressive, and regressive tax types, including categories, brackets, and filing statuses, to understand how tax law shapes data input, planning, and practical income tax preparation.

Explore how progressive and flat tax concepts shape marginal and average tax rates, tax brackets, and taxable income, with practical guidance for planning and explaining taxes.

Explore how marginal and average tax rates apply to 2023–2024 federal income taxes, using a 1040 example to explain taxable income, brackets, and filing status.

Explore the income tax formula, from income and deductions to AGI, standard versus itemized, and taxable income. Learn how credits, withholding, and self-employment tax shape final tax.

Explore how the income tax formula maps to form 1040 via tax software and Excel worksheets, linking income, adjustments, standard or itemized deductions, credits, and self-employment tax.

Explore the hierarchy of tax guidance—from statutory sources and the Internal Revenue Code to IRS administrative rulings and court decisions—and how preparers handle gray areas for different income returns.

Learn how the Affordable Care Act's premium tax credit works with advance payments, Form 8962 reconciliation, and marketplace forms 1095-A and 1095-C for 2023 tax year.