Annual Federal Tax Refresher Course Outline
Instructor
vadim
- Description
- Curriculum
- FAQ
- Notice
Overview
Every year, income tax prep must reflect inflation-driven changes to limits and new tax laws. This course explores these updates to help those preparing 1040 individual tax returns. The 2025 Annual Tax Filing Season Update covers new laws and key changes for the 2025 season, offers a tax overview, and reviews vital rules on ethics, practices, and procedures for tax return preparers.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize key individual income tax changes from recent legislation
- Use inflation-adjusted and other limits to properly prepare tax returns
- Understand federal tax filing statuses and when each applies
- Identify which types of income must be reported
- Apply tax rules to available credits and income adjustments
- Identify penalties for not meeting ethical and practice standards
- Understand duties and limits on preparers under Circular 230
Designed For:
CPAs and tax pros at any stage in their career
Course Introduction
Chapter 1 - Federal Tax Law Updates and Compliance Essentials
Chapter 2- New Tax Law & 2025 Updates
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8
2.1 Overview -
9
2.2 Standard Mileage Rates
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10
2.3 Reporting Rules for Payment Cards and Third-Party Platforms
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11
2.4 Covid-19 Tax Relief Measures
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12
2.5 IRS Direct File Pilot Program
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13
2.6.Overview and expiration of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)
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14
2.7 Tax-related identity theft
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15
2.8. Safeguarding taxpayer data
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16
2.9 Roth Account Distributions
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17
2.10 Roth Contributions
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18
2.11 A Section 529 plan
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19
2.12 – Chapter Summary
Chapter 3- Components of Income
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20
3.1 Overview
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21
3.2 Review of Filing Status Terminology
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22
3.3 Earnings and Their Tax Treatment
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23
3.4 Schedule B: Reporting Interest, Dividends, and Foreign Accounts
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24
3.5 Reporting and Taxation of Retirement Income
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25
3.6 Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
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26
3.7 Reporting and Tax on Unemployment Compensation
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27
3.8 Alimony – Divorce Agreements Before and After 2019
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28
3.9 Chapter Summary
Chapter 4- Proprietorship Income
Chapter 5- Individual Taxpayer Deductions
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34
5.1 Overview
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35
5.2 Tax credit eligibility
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36
5.3 Cancellation of student debt (when to exclude from income)
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37
5.4 Capital Gains and Losses
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38
5.5 Standard Deduction Eligibility
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39
5.6 Itemized Deductions – Schedule A
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40
5.7 The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
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41
5.8 The Clean Vehicle Credits
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42
5.9. Balance due and refund options
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43
5.10 Tax return due dates and filing for extensions
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44
5.11 Chapter Summary
Do I need to visit a testing center to complete the Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) exam?
No. The AFTR course is considered complete once the tax preparer passes the included 100-question exam. The exam is administered online by IRS-approved continuing education providers, such as La Rusa, and follows strict IRS content and formatting guidelines.
What does the AFTR course include?
The 6-hour AFTR course is structured around three core domains:
- New Tax Law / Recent Updatesu2028
- General Tax Law Reviewu2028
- Practices, Procedures, and Professional Responsibilityu2028
Each year, the IRS updates the required outline. La Rusa ensures full compliance with the current curriculum in all course materials.
What is the duration and format of the course and exam?
- The course spans 6 hours of instruction.u2028
- It concludes with a 100-question multiple-choice test, as mandated by the IRS.
- New Tax Law / Recent Updatesu2028
- General Tax Law Reviewu2028
- Practices, Procedures, and Professional Responsibilityu2028
Each year, the IRS updates the required outline. La Rusa ensures full compliance with the current curriculum in all course materials.
What is the duration and format of the course and exam?
- The course spans 6 hours of instruction.u2028
- It concludes with a 100-question multiple-choice test, as mandated by the IRS.
What if I don’t pass the exam?
Participants are allowed two attempts to pass the same version of the exam, provided no feedback is given between attempts. If both attempts are unsuccessful, the preparer must complete the exam again using a substantially different version.
What is the deadline to complete the AFTR course for the upcoming tax season?
- The AFTR course becomes available June 1 each year.u2028
- To qualify for the Record of Completion, it must be successfully completed no later than December 31, 2028
- Records of Completion are issued as part of the PTIN renewal process.
- To qualify for the Record of Completion, it must be successfully completed no later than December 31, 2028
- Records of Completion are issued as part of the PTIN renewal process.
Do I need to have a PTIN before taking the course?
Yes. You must have an active Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) to ensure your course completion is reported to the IRS.
Can I skip the course and just take the test?
No. IRS rules require completion of the entire 6-hour course. You cannot bypass the instruction and go directly to the exam.
I'm a Licensed Tax Consultant or Preparer in Oregon. Will the AFSP course count toward my CE requirements?
Yes. La Rusa is an IRS-authorized continuing education provider, and our AFSP courses are also recognized by the Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners.
Oregon-based Licensed Tax Consultants and Tax Preparers must complete 30 hours of CE annually, including 2 hours in ethics/professional conduct. AFSP courses from La Rusa can be applied toward these requirements.
Oregon-based Licensed Tax Consultants and Tax Preparers must complete 30 hours of CE annually, including 2 hours in ethics/professional conduct. AFSP courses from La Rusa can be applied toward these requirements.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize key individual income tax changes from recent legislation
- Use inflation-adjusted and other limits to properly prepare tax returns
- Understand federal tax filing statuses and when each applies
- Identify which types of income must be reported
- Apply tax rules to available credits and income adjustments
- Identify penalties for not meeting ethical and practice standards
- Understand duties and limits on preparers under Circular 230
Designed For:
CPAs and tax pros at any stage in their career
The access period for the course is 12 months.
It pertains to the 2024 - 2025 tax year and is delivered via self-study, with a PDF download available.
The provider of record for this course is La Rusa LLC, with the provider number LORLQ, and it falls under the field of study of Taxes. The course was last reviewed on June 18, 2025, and is classified as an overview study level. It has been approved for the Federal Tax Law Update.
The exam consists of 45 questions, and requires a passing grade of 70.