U.S. Federal Taxation

This redesigned course is the first course in a four-course U.S. Federal Tax Specialization and reflects legislation from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in 2025. It covers and focuses on the U.S. federal tax system as it relates to individuals, employees, and sole proprietors. Key concepts covered include gross income and items that are statutorily included or excluded in it, personal and business expenses that qualify as tax deductions, and the differing tax treatments for employees versus self-employed taxpayers. Unlike many other introductory courses in tax and as part of this course’s comprehensive wrap-up, learners will be provided with practical and tangible experience reporting both income and expenses on the main individual tax return used in the US Form 1040.

NOTE: Course Update Coming Soon! We’re currently updating this course to reflect major changes to U.S. tax law made by the 2025 legislation commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. An updated version of the course will launch in early 2026, with revised lessons, examples, and explanations that align with the new law. In the meantime, please note that some content may reflect pre-2025 rules. This course examines the U.S. federal tax system as it relates to property transactions of business owners and shareholders. Topics include cost recovery, such as depreciation, amortization, and depletion; calculation of realized versus recognized gains and losses; evaluation of the potential tax effects of nontaxable exchanges; and the combining, or netting, gains and losses that are different in nature. Assignments facilitate self-discovery of knowledge and development of a variety of professional skills.

This course provides an introduction to the U.S. federal income taxation of corporations and their shareholders. The course focuses on the relevant provisions of Subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as related Treasury Regulations and judicial opinions, governing corporate formation, operations, distributions, and liquidation. Practical in-class study problems facilitate self-discovery of technical tax knowledge along with the development of a variety of professional skills and attitudes.