2025 Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR)

Author: Paul J. Winn

Each year, various limits affecting income tax return preparation and tax planning are affected by inflation-related changes. In addition, new tax laws come into being that may significantly affect taxpayers’ income tax liability. This course will examine many of those changes.

The Annual Federal Tax Refresher course is designed to meet the requirements of the IRS Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion. It discusses new tax law and recent updates for the upcoming filing season, provides a general tax review, and examines important rules governing tax return preparer ethics, practices and procedures.

In organizing this course, the term "domain" is used in place of the more common "chapter" to more closely follow the language of the IRS Annual Federal Tax Refresher course outline.

Enrolled Agents will not receive CPE credit for completing this course.

This course and final exam must be completed no later than midnight December 31, 2025 in order to receive credit from the IRS. The final exam includes 100 questions and you have 3 hours to complete the final exam. You have 2 attempts to complete the final exam with a passing score of 70% or better. No copy of the final exam can be provided.

We recommend using the most current Google Chrome browser version when completing the course. We also recommend not connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when completing the final exam.

Publication Date: June 2025

Designed For
This course is designed for Tax Preparers. CPAs that take this course must check with their State Board of Accountancy if this course is acceptable CPE.

Topics Covered

• New Tax Law/Recent Updates
• General Review
• Practices, Procedures & Professional Responsibility

Learning Objectives

• Identify the principal individual income tax changes brought about by recent legislation
• Identify how to 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
• Identify how to 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
• Identify the duties and restrictions imposed on tax preparers under Circular 230
• Identify the tax rules to the various credits and adjustments to income available to taxpayers

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (6 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None