Tax CPE for CPAs: Self-Study Courses from a NASBA-Registered Sponsor
Tax is one of the most in-demand CPE fields of study for CPAs — and for good reason. Tax law changes constantly. Whether you’re staying current on federal updates, navigating ACA compliance, or strengthening your knowledge of credits like the Earned Income Credit, tax CPE keeps your skills sharp and your license in good standing.
LearnCPE offers self-study tax CPE courses built for working CPAs. No subscription required. No filler. Buy only the credits you need, at affordable, flexible per-credit pricing.
Tax CPE Courses for CPAs
All courses below are from a NASBA-registered sponsor, self-paced, and available online anytime. Credits fall under the Taxes field of study and are accepted by most state boards of accountancy.
2027 Annual Tax Season Update
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
Stay current on the tax law changes that matter most heading into the 2027 filing season. This course covers key federal updates CPAs need to know — from individual and business provisions to planning considerations — so you can advise clients with confidence and fulfill your annual update requirement.
Affordable Care Act – Employer Rights & Responsibilities
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
Understand the employer-side provisions of the ACA — including shared responsibility requirements, reporting obligations (Forms 1094-C and 1095-C), and penalty structures. Practical and up-to-date for CPAs who advise business clients on ACA compliance.
Affordable Care Act – Individual Rights & Responsibilities
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
Cover the individual mandate, premium tax credits, marketplace enrollment, and exemptions under the ACA. Ideal for CPAs who prepare individual returns or advise clients on health coverage decisions and their tax implications.
Earned Income Credit
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A focused course on EIC eligibility rules, due diligence requirements, common errors, and IRS audit triggers. Essential CPE for any CPA who prepares returns for low-to-moderate income clients or wants to reduce preparer penalty risk.
Education Tax Benefits
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A practical course on the federal tax benefits available for education expenses — covering 529 plans, the American Opportunity Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, student loan interest deductions, and employer-provided education assistance. Ideal for CPAs advising clients on education planning and tax strategy.
Earned Income Tax Credit: EITC Due Diligence
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A deep-dive into EITC preparer due diligence requirements under IRC §6695(g) — covering Form 8867, eligibility verification, documentation standards, and penalty exposure. Essential CPE for any CPA who prepares returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Estate Tax Planning
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A comprehensive look at federal estate tax planning — covering the unified credit, portability elections, lifetime gifting strategies, and valuation considerations. Practical CPE for CPAs who advise clients on wealth transfer and estate planning decisions.
Home Office Deduction
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A focused course on the home office deduction rules for both self-employed individuals and employees — covering the regular and exclusive use tests, simplified vs. actual expense methods, and common pitfalls. Practical CPE for CPAs who advise clients on remote work and small business tax planning.
Individual Retirement Accounts
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
Covers the rules governing traditional and Roth IRAs — contribution limits, deductibility, rollovers, conversions, required minimum distributions, and early withdrawal penalties. Ideal for CPAs advising clients on retirement savings and distribution strategy.
Section 199A Pass-Through Deduction
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A practical course on the qualified business income deduction under Section 199A — covering eligibility, the QBI calculation, W-2 wage and UBIA limitations, and specified service trade or business (SSTB) rules. Essential CPE for CPAs advising pass-through entity owners and self-employed clients.
Virtual Currency Transactions and Form 1040
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A practical course on the federal tax treatment of virtual currency — covering the digital asset question on Form 1040, taxable events, basis tracking, and IRS reporting requirements. Essential CPE for CPAs whose clients buy, sell, or hold cryptocurrency.
Tax Return Preparer Ethical Issues
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
A practical course on tax return preparer conduct standards — covering confidentiality, accuracy, conflicts of interest, taxpayer omissions, and return of client records. Preparers work through real-world ethical scenarios and learn the sanctions that can follow noncompliance with applicable conduct rules. Essential CPE for any CPA who prepares or reviews submissions to the IRS.
AI Series – Considerations in Tax Preparation & Research
Field of Study: Taxes | Format: Self-Study | Delivery: Online, On-Demand
Explore how AI is changing tax work — from automated data collection and tax optimization in return preparation, to using tools like ChatGPT for tax research. The course also covers how the IRS is using AI in its enforcement efforts. Practical CPE for CPAs who want to use AI responsibly in their tax practice.
How Tax CPE Credits Work for CPAs
Tax courses fall under the Taxes field of study as defined by NASBA. This is a technical subject area, which means tax credits count toward your total CPE requirement and — in states with technical hour minimums — toward those minimums as well.
A few things to know:
- Self-study tax CPE is accepted by most state boards, though some states cap the percentage of credits you can earn via self-study, and a few states, such as Delaware, require sponsors to be approved separately. Check your state’s rules in the LearnCPE state requirements directory.
- Credits are earned per 50 minutes of learning, per NASBA standards. Each course page lists the exact credit hours.
- You’ll receive a certificate of completion immediately upon passing the course assessment. Keep it on file — most state boards require you to retain CPE documentation for 4–5 years.
- Tax CPE does not fulfill ethics requirements. If you need ethics credits, see LearnCPE’s ethics CPE courses by state.
Related Resources
- Accounting CPE for CPAs — GAAP and technical accounting courses that pair well with your tax CPE mix
- AI CPE for CPAs — earn Information Technology CPE while building practical AI skills for tax and accounting workflows
- Excel CPE for CPAs — spreadsheet skills that pair with tax prep and planning work
- Audit CPE for CPAs — courses on fraud detection and auditor responsibilities
- Self-Study CPE Limits by State — check your state’s online CPE rules
Frequently Asked Questions: Tax CPE for CPAs
Does tax CPE count toward my CPA license renewal?
Yes. Tax courses fall under the Taxes field of study, a NASBA-recognized technical subject area accepted by most state boards of accountancy. As long as the provider is a NASBA-registered sponsor that your state accepts and the course meets your state’s format requirements, tax CPE credits count toward your renewal.
How many tax CPE credits do I need?
There is no universal minimum for tax-specific credits — most states set a total CPE hour requirement without mandating a specific number in any one subject area (outside of ethics). That said, CPAs in tax-focused roles often voluntarily concentrate their CPE in Taxes to stay current. Check your state’s requirements for any subject-area restrictions.
Are LearnCPE’s tax courses NASBA-approved?
LearnCPE is registered with NASBA as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. All courses on the platform — including tax courses — are developed in compliance with NASBA’s Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education Programs. Most state boards accept courses from NASBA-registered sponsors; a few states, such as Delaware, require separate sponsor approval.
Can I take tax CPE online as self-study?
Yes. All LearnCPE tax courses are self-paced, online, and available on demand. You can start and stop at any time and complete the final assessment when you’re ready. Self-study tax CPE is accepted by most state boards, though some states limit the total percentage of credits earned via self-study — confirm your state’s rules before enrolling.
What’s the difference between tax CPE and ethics CPE?
Tax CPE covers substantive tax law, updates, planning, and compliance topics — it falls under the Taxes field of study. Ethics CPE covers professional conduct, independence, and state board rules — it falls under Behavioral Ethics or Regulatory Ethics. They serve different requirements. Most states require a specific number of ethics hours separately from your general CPE total; tax credits cannot be used to satisfy that ethics requirement.
Do LearnCPE tax courses include a certificate of completion?
Yes. You’ll receive a certificate of completion immediately after passing the course assessment. The certificate includes your name, course title, credit hours, field of study, and completion date — everything your state board requires for CPE documentation. Most states require you to retain certificates for 4–5 years in the event of an audit.
Get Your Tax CPE Done Today
LearnCPE’s tax courses are self-paced, from a NASBA-registered sponsor, and priced per credit — no subscription required. Browse the full catalog and buy only what you need.