Richmond: Don Farmer's 2026 Federal Tax Update

Overview

The 2025 tax law introduces significant changes that will shape 2026 tax return preparation — and now is the time to get up to speed.

In this timely update, we’ll walk through the provisions taking effect in 2026, along with important IRS guidance, recent court decisions and inflation-adjusted amounts that impact planning and compliance. We’ll focus on the developments that matter most when preparing returns and advising clients.

This comprehensive update will focus on the developments you are most likely to encounter in everyday tax practice, including compliance concerns and planning opportunities. With clear explanations, scalable solutions and practical application, this course will help you stay current, communicate changes confidently, and prepare for the 2027 filing season with a client-focused approach.

Highlights

Selected provisions of the 2025 federal tax legislation effective in 2026 affecting individuals and small businesses.
Compliance considerations for 2026 tax year returns.
Developments in areas commonly seen in small firms related to retirement and employee benefits, estate and gift tax, digital assets, and other issues.
Practical tax planning for 2026 and beyond, including strategies sole practitioners can use when advising individuals, families and business owners.
Practitioner issues for sole practitioners and small firms, including IRS procedure updates, recent court cases impacting tax practice, documentation and due diligence concerns, workflow considerations and the use of AI.
Key inflationary updates, including tax brackets, standard deduction amounts and retirement plan limitations.

Prerequisites

Experience with at least one tax season.

Designed For

Sole practitioners, small firm staff and tax professionals with a general understanding of individual and business taxation who are involved in preparation or review of tax returns or providing strategic tax planning advice.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand and apply the significant federal tax law changes affecting 2026 tax return preparation for individuals and businesses, including sole proprietors, pass-through entities and closely held businesses.
Recognize and apply rules for new and modified deductions and credits that are most relevant to small- and medium-sized clients.
Analyze and apply recent developments and guidance related to retirement planning, employee benefits, digital assets and other issues frequently encountered in small firms.
Apply practical tax planning strategies in response to current federal tax developments tailored to your clients.
Evaluate practitioner-focused issues affecting sole-practitioners, including recent court cases, evolving IRS procedures, documentation concerns, client communication and the responsible use of AI in tax practice.
Identify and apply the inflation-adjusted amounts for 2026.

Preparation

None

Specialized Credits

Level

Code

Vendor

Fields of Study

Leader(s):

Vivian Paige, President, Vivian J. Paige, CPA, PC

Leader Bios

Vivian Paige, President, Vivian J. Paige, CPA, PC

Vivian J. Paige, CPA, CGMA, MBA, MS, has extensive experience in taxation and accounting. She was a successful sole practitioner until selling most of her firm 11 years ago and joining the faculty of her alma mater, Old Dominion University (ODU). During her nine years at ODU, she received numerous awards, including being bestowed the permanent title of ""University Distinguished Teacher"" and being named the ""Most Inspiring Faculty Member"" by the winner of the ODU Kaufman Scholar Award, given annually to the top student among ODU's 25,000+ students. She then spent two years as a member of the faculty at Christopher Newport University, where, in addition to teaching, she served as a mentor to the next generation of CPAs. She is currently taking a break from teaching.

Vivian is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA). She is actively involved in the VSCPA, currently serving as a member and immediate past chair of the Tax Advisory Committee and as a member of the VSCPA Political Action Committee Board, the ad hoc Educators' Symposium Task Force, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council. She authored the VSCPA Legislators' Tax Guide and presented briefings to the legislature on taxation. She is the co-author of two current VSCPA ethics courses. She is the author of the VSCPA’s monthly Don Farmer Federal Tax newsletter, and authors and presents its annual Federal Tax Update. She also is a presenter at several VSCPA conferences. Her longtime service to the VSCPA was recognized in 2019 when she was named the Outstanding Member.

Vivian is also involved in her community. She serves as a member of the Audit and Finance Committee of the FoodBank of Southeastern Virginia, on the audit and finance committees of the ACLU of Virginia, and as a board member of the Hampton Roads Tax Forum. She was a member of the Mayor's Commission on Equity and Economic Opportunity and the Mayor's Committee on Gaming. For a number of years, she was a weekly guest opinion columnist for The Virginian-Pilot, covering state and local politics. She co-founded Norfolk United Facing Race and was a founding board member of the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement. Her varied interests have led her to be a public speaker and a frequent guest on radio and television, both locally and nationally. For her work in the community, she has received numerous awards, including being a YWCA Women of Distinction honoree.

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