1040 Preparation and Planning 9: Standard Deduction and Itemized Deductions (2026)

Author: Barbara Weltman, Greg White

Per the IRS Education Provider Standards this course must be COMPLETED by 12/31/2028 to receive credits. NOTE: Go to My Professional Profile in your CCH CPELink account settings to ensure your name, and PTIN number; matches your PTIN card

This three-hour CPE course, which is ninth in the 1040 Preparation and Planning series, covers standard deduction amounts and itemized deductions.

Tax developments include the extensive changes effective for 2025 that were created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBB Act) and other tax legislation, as well as IRS pronouncements, and court decisions. They impact 2025 tax year returns that will be filed during the 2025 filing season and refund opportunities for earlier years; as well as point the way to strategic planning in 2026 and beyond. This course brings the tax preparer "up-to-speed" in preparing 2025 tax returns for the 2026 filing season.

Publication Date: September 2025

Topics Covered

• Standard Deduction
• Overview of Itemized Deductions
• Medical Expenses
• Special Equipment
• Deductible Medical Expenses
• Nonqualifying Medical Expenses
• Limitations on the Medical Expense Deduction
• Medical Insurance Premiums
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reimbursement of Medical Expenses
• Medical Expenses of a Decedent
• Taxes
• Taxes - SALT Cap
• Deductible Personal Taxes
• Sales Taxes
• Personal Property Taxes
• Real Estate Taxes
• Nondeductible Taxes
• Deductible Taxes
• Foreign Income Taxes
• Interest Payments
• Mortgage Interest
• Points
• Interest Payments - Refinancing
• Amortization of Bond Premium
• Investment Interest Expense Deduction
• Charitable Contributions
• Substantiation of Cash Contributions
• Substantiation of Charitable Contributions
• Vehicle Donations
• AGI Limitation Charitable Contributions
• Gifts of Partial Interests
• Conservation Easements
• Charitable Contribution Strategies
• Older Taxpayers
• Casualty and Theft Losses
• When to Deduct the Loss
• Miscellaneous Deductions not Subject to 2% Floor
• Looking Ahead for Itemized Deductions

Learning Objectives

• List the basic and additional standard deduction amounts
• List which items can be deducted as medical expenses
• Identify which type of interest is deductible
• Determine which taxes are deductible
• Recognize how to figure charitable contribution deductions and comply with substantiation requirements
• Identify the rules for determining disaster losses
• Identify deductible miscellaneous itemized deductions
• Identify new phase-out for itemized deductions effective for 2026 tax returns
• Identify new charitable deduction for non-itemizers effective for 2026 tax year

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (3 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None