Tax season may be behind you, but some of the most valuable planning opportunities are still ahead.
This course, recorded on June 30th, 2026, and presented by Doug Stives, CPA, MBA, helps tax professionals identify planning opportunities, avoid costly year-end surprises, and deliver greater value to clients during the second half of the year.
You'll learn how to evaluate withholding elections and estimated tax payments, identify potential underpayment issues, review Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) exposure, and uncover opportunities involving Qualified Business Income (QBI) deductions, self-employment tax planning, retirement strategies, and Roth conversions.
The course also explores estate planning considerations, beneficiary reviews, charitable giving strategies, 529 plan updates, capital gain planning, IRS enforcement priorities, and emerging legislative proposals that may affect future tax planning decisions.
Whether you're working with employees, retirees, business owners, investors, or high-net-worth individuals, this course provides practical strategies you can begin discussing with clients immediately.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Evaluate withholding elections and estimated tax payments to identify potential tax shortfalls.
- Recognize planning opportunities involving NIIT, capital gains, and investment income.
- Identify self-employment tax and QBI deduction planning strategies.
- Evaluate Roth conversion opportunities and retirement planning considerations.
- Review beneficiary designations and key estate planning documents.
- Identify planning opportunities involving charitable giving and 529 plans.
- Recognize current IRS enforcement priorities and audit trends.
- Apply practical mid-year planning strategies before year-end deadlines arrive.
This course counts for 2 Hours of Federal Tax Law for IRS Continuing Education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I learn in this course?
This course covers practical mid-year tax planning strategies, including withholding reviews, estimated tax payments, retirement planning opportunities, beneficiary reviews, estate planning considerations, charitable giving strategies, and current tax developments affecting 2026.
Why is mid-year tax planning important?
Mid-year planning allows tax professionals to identify potential issues, adjust tax strategies, and uncover opportunities before year-end deadlines and filing season pressures begin.
Does this course cover estimated tax payments and withholding?
Yes. Participants will learn how to evaluate withholding elections and estimated tax payments and identify situations that may require adjustments to avoid underpayment issues.
Will retirement planning topics be discussed?
Yes. The course includes discussions on Roth conversion considerations, retirement account planning, required minimum distributions, and beneficiary designations.
Does the course discuss estate planning?
Yes. The course reviews wills, powers of attorney, health directives, beneficiary designations, gifting strategies, and other estate planning considerations.
Will this course help me identify planning opportunities for clients?
Yes. The course focuses on practical strategies that can help professionals identify tax-saving opportunities and improve client planning conversations throughout the year.
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.
