This course, recorded on February 4, 2026, examines recurring tax season issues that expose taxpayers to penalties, delays, and compliance risks. The program combines structured instruction with an included Q&A segment addressing common practitioner concerns, IRS processing issues, and high-risk filing situations relevant to the 2025 and 2026 tax years.
Key topics include underpayment penalties, extension handling, balance-due scenarios, RMD compliance, credit calculation errors, filing status mistakes, digital asset disclosures, and FBAR reporting requirements. The course also covers statute deadlines for refunds and amended returns, e-file documentation practices, and strategies for reducing exposure when issues are identified late in the filing cycle.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze extension and estimated tax payment strategies to minimize penalties, interest, and cash-flow disruptions
- Identify and correct common filing errors related to credits, dependents, filing status, and documentation
- Apply current RMD rules and retirement contribution deadlines for the 2025 and 2026 tax years
- Evaluate eligibility and limitations for key credits, deductions, and exclusions commonly claimed on individual returns
- Recognize FBAR and digital asset reporting thresholds and filing obligations
- Implement proactive tax season planning techniques to reduce amended returns and IRS notices
This course counts for 2 Hours of Federal Tax Law for IRS Continuing Education.
About the Presenter:
Doug Stives is considered a worldwide leader in public and management accounting by AICPA & CIMA. He is a CPA, MBA, and recently retired professor of Accounting at Monmouth University and a professional speaker at many organizations and conferences. Doug was honored as Monmouth's Outstanding Business Professor of the Year in 2009, 2016, and 2024 and was awarded an Outstanding Educator award in 2021 by the New Jersey Society of CPAs. Frequent media exposure includes The Wall Street Journal and other national publications and television, including CNN, CNBC, PBS, NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, and several cable networks. Doug was once dubbed as the "Most Tax Efficient Man in America" by the Wall Street Journal.
