Federal income tax law and the Treasury Department’s own regulations weave a complex tapestry of legal requirements that can be complex for new and aspiring accountants to understand. Through online lectures and instructor-led Q&A sessions, you will learn the basic philosophy of taxation, determination of taxable income, allowable deductions and gains and losses on sales and exchanges of property for the individual taxpayer. Emphasis is placed on preparation of federal income tax returns and learning to utilize varied references to deal with tax accounting problems and tax planning. By the end of this course, students will have a fundamental understanding of modern accounting practices and federal income taxation.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the fundamentals of federal income taxation
• Have a fundamental understanding of the basic philosophy of taxation
• Identify taxable income
• Estimate allowable deductions and prepare a moderately complicated personal income tax return

Skills You Will Gain

• Federal income taxation
• Tax determination
• Deductions
• Tax form preparation

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—including video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are released on a structured, week-by-week schedule. Students move through the course together, with regular due dates to support consistent progress and engagement. Most learners can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.