10 Federal Tax Law · 6 Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) · 2 Ethics
The 2026 Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) helps you earn your AFSP – Record of Completion for the 2027 filing season and gain limited representation rights for your clients. This self-study program covers the full 18-hour requirement: 10 hours of Federal Tax Law, 6 hours of the Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR), and 2 hours of Ethics. Designed for tax preparers who already have general tax preparation knowledge, it walks you through capital gains and losses, depreciation, Schedule C, and Schedule E, plus a dedicated AFTR module covering filing season issues and the latest tax law updates. You finish with a knowledge-based comprehension test and a final exam to lock in your CE credits.
Complete your course before midnight (local time) on December 31, 2026 to ensure your hours are reported on time. The 6-hour AFTR portion expires December 31, 2026 — after that date, only the 10 hours of Federal Tax Law and 2 hours of Ethics will be reported per IRS regulations.
What you’ll be able to do
- Understand your limited representation rights as an AFSP Record of Completion holder
- Know the penalty amount per refundable credit
- Recognize the annual inflation adjustments for the standard deduction
- Report capital gains and losses on the sale of stocks, real estate, and other assets
- Apply depreciation methods including Section 179 and bonus depreciation
- Complete Schedule C for self-employed individuals and sole proprietors
- Complete Schedule E for rental, partnership, S corporation, and trust income
- Adhere to practice obligations under Subpart B and Section 10.51 of Circular 230
What is a self-study course?
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Learn at your own pace Take as long as you need. No deadlines, no rush — just progress on your schedule. |
Start any time Enroll today and begin immediately. No waiting for a class to open or a session to start. |
No instructor required All materials are included. You study independently through readings, lessons, and a final exam. |
Course curriculum
AFSP Part I — Federal Tax Law · 10 Hours
- Ch. 1 — Capital gains and losses. Learn how to report profits and losses from selling stocks, real estate, and other assets, and how tax rates apply.
- Ch. 2 — Depreciation. Understand how to deduct the cost of business assets over time using methods like Section 179 and bonus depreciation.
- Ch. 3 — Schedule C. Used for self-employed individuals and sole proprietors to report business income and expenses on their personal return.
- Ch. 4 — Schedule E. Covers supplemental income from rental properties, partnerships, S corporations, and trusts.
- Final exam — Federal Tax Law. Test your knowledge across the Federal Tax Law chapters to earn your 10 CE credits for this part.
AFSP Part II — Ethics, Due Diligence and Penalties · 2 Hours
- Ch. 5 — Ethics, due diligence and penalties. Covers professional standards and due diligence responsibilities tax preparers must follow, including taxpayer penalties and Circular 230 guidelines.
- Final exam — Ethics. Test your knowledge of ethics, due diligence, and penalties to earn your 2 CE credits for this part.
AFSP Part III — Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) · 6 Hours
- Ch. 6 — Annual Federal Tax Refresher. Covers filing season issues and 2026 tax law updates.
- AFTR comprehension test. Knowledge-based comprehension test administered by the CE Provider to earn your 6 CE credits for this part.
To earn your AFSP – Record of Completion
- Take the six (6) hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) course covering filing season issues and tax law updates, plus the knowledge-based comprehension test administered by the CE Provider.
- Take ten (10) hours of other federal tax law topics.
- Take two (2) hours of ethics.
- Have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
- Consent to adhere to the practice obligations outlined in Subpart B and Section 10.51 of Treasury Department Circular No. 230.
A tax preparer needs a PTIN account to receive instructions from Ta*********@*rs.gov on signing the Circular 230 consent and receiving your certificate in your online secure mailbox. If you don’t have an online PTIN account, you’ll receive a letter with instructions for completing the application and obtaining your certificate.
Course details
| Field of study | Federal Tax Law — 10 hrs Behavioral Ethics — 2 hrs 6 Hour AFTR |
| Total CE credit | 18 hours (70% or better required to pass; earns limited representation rights) |
| Course level | Intermediate |
| Prerequisite | General tax preparation knowledge is required |
| Delivery method | Self-study |
| CE credit deadline | December 31, 2026, midnight local time — for all 18 CE credits. The 6-hour AFTR portion expires December 31, 2026; the 10-hour Federal Tax Law and 2-hour Ethics portions can still be completed for credit after that date. |
| Upon completion | Certificate of Completion · AFSP – Record of Completion |
| IRS credit reporting | CE credits reported directly to the IRS for tax preparers with a valid PTIN |
This course does not qualify for California Continuing Education hours.
After 12/31/26, only 10 hours of Federal Tax Law and 2 hours of Ethics will be reported per IRS regulations.
