2026 Clemson University Income Tax Course - Columbia

In-Person 18-credit hour seminar covering Tax Law Updates, Tax Legislation and Federal Ethics that gets you ready for the Tax Season.
About this Event

2026 Clemson University Income Tax Course
In-Person Event - Columbia at Brookland Banquet & Conference Center
2-Day Program
December 1 and 2, 2026
Tuesday and Wednesday

Ticket Price:

Early-Bird (until 8/31/26): $390.00

Regular Price (starts 9/1/26): $455.00

IRS Program Codes:

General Tax Law Online: 3XKET-T-00067-26-I and 3XKET-T-00069-26-I for up to 13 credit hours

Ethics Online: 3XKET-E-00065-26-I for up to 2 credit hours

Updates Online: 3XKET-U-00066-26-I for up to 3 credit hours

Continuing Education Credits:
For CPA, Enrolled Agents, and Tax Return Preparers: 18 hours total

Federal Tax Law: 13 hours

Federal Ethics: 2 hours

Federal Tax Law Updates: 3 hours

Attorneys: 15 CLE credit hours total

Tax Law: 13 hours

Ethics: 2 hours

Certified Financial Planners: 16 hours total

Program Faculty:

Tax preparation professionals and instructors with decades of combined professional and academic experience:

• S. Lynn Martin, CPA, MCPA: Instructor, Clemson University
• Thomas Sheaffer, Partner at Winter Smith Associates
• Evette Davis, IRS Senior Tax Analyst, Retired

From the United States Internal Revenue Service - IRS:

• Cyrus Berdan III: Tax Specialist, Stakeholder Liaison
• Cynthia Kenney-McIntyre (Cindy): Taxpayer Advocate

F rom the South Carolina Department of Revenue - SCDOR:

• Keith J. Wicker, CPM: Special Projects Coordinator, SC Department of Revenue – SCDOR
• Trey Bishop: Tax Law Coordinator, SC Department of Revenue – SCDOR
• Krystle Walden, CPA: Sr Tax Research Analyst, SC Department of Revenue – SCDOR
• Jean Funches: Taxpayer Advocate (Columbia event only)

Topics:

Ethics. This chapter discusses important issues that help tax practitioners comply with their ethical obligations. Topics include the following:

· Proposed Circular 230 regulation of incompetence and disreputable conduct

· Circular 230 disciplinary cases

· Self-reporting misconduct

· Reporting another tax practitioner’s misconduct

· Ten case studies that illustrate real-life ethical scenarios

Gift Tax. This chapter discusses what constitutes a gift. It explains the gift tax annual exclusion and gift splitting. It reviews gifts to a spouse and how a surviving spouse can use the deceased spousal unused exclusion (DSUE) for gifting. This chapter explains how to determine the value of a gift, and the adequate disclosure rules that start the statute of limitations on the valuation. Finally, this chapter explains gift tax reporting on Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return and it contains a comprehensive example of reporting gifts on Form 709.

Payroll and Estimated Tax. This chapter explains how the OBBBA affects payroll withholding and reporting. It explains the employer’s tax withholding, deposit, and reporting requirements. It discusses new report­ing requirements for qualified tips and overtime compensation. This chapter reviews when a taxpayer with self-employment or other income must pay esti­mated tax and how to calculate estimated tax pay­ments. Finally, this chapter explains the estimated tax penalty for underpayment of estimated taxes and when a taxpayer can request a waiver of the penalty.

Business Entity Tax Issues. This chapter examines current issues that pertain to business entities, including the taxation of partnership and S corporation distributions of cash and property and the limits on partnership and S corporation losses. This chapter provides an overview of the requirements for an amateur sports organization to qualify for tax-exempt status and it contains a sample application. Finally, this chapter discusses tax-exempt status for labor organizations.

Restaurant and Hospitality Industries. This chapter examines tax issues that are important for restaurant and hospitality businesses. It reviews the employee and the employer tip reporting requirements. It explains the nonrefundable tip credit available to employers and it also explains the difference between tip income and wage income. This chapter reviews the rules for the new qualified tip and overtime deductions. This chapter reviews the definition of qualified improvement property that is eligible for bonus depreciation and I.R.C. § 179 expensing. It explains how cost segregation studies can provide an opportunity to accelerate depreciation on certain assets. Finally, this chapter explains the safe harbors that apply to the cost of certain remodel and refresh projects and the current expensing of the cost of smallwares.

Individual Tax Issues: Part 1. This chapter covers several current issues for tax practitioners preparing individual income tax returns, including the following:

· New charitable contribution deduction rules for individual taxpayers

· When individual taxpayers can deduct investment theft losses, such as internet scam losses

· Calculating and reporting wagering (gambling) gains and losses

· Reconciling advance premium tax credit payments with the taxpayer’s actual premium tax credit

· Guidance on nontaxable payments reported on Form 1099-K, such as sales of personal items at a loss and reimbursements for personal expenses

Individual Tax Issues: Part 2. This chapter discusses several additional important tax topics for tax practitioners preparing individual income tax returns. Topics include the following:

· Claiming the credit for other dependents

· The senior deduction

· The new deduction for qualified passenger vehicle loan interest

· How to apply for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), and what tax benefits and credits now require a social security number

Capital Gains and Losses. This chapter discusses capital gains and losses. It explains the definition of a capital asset and long-term vs. short-term gain. It discusses how to determine the holding period of a capital asset and loss limitations. This chapter explains types of gain that are included in net investment income tax and gain that is excluded. Finally, this chapter reviews reporting capital gains on Schedule D (Form 1040), including the tax rates, netting short-term and long-term gain, and carryovers.

Business Tax Issues. This chapter reviews business valuations. It explains the cash and accrual methods of accounting for a small business. It also discusses the new corporate charitable contribution rules. This chapter discussed new guidance on fringe benefits. It reviews the enhanced qualified business income (QBI) deduction. This chapter discusses the taxation of pass through entity tax refunds. Finally, this chapter details the taxation of settlements and fines.

IRS Issues. This chapter covers issues key IRS issues for practitioners. Topics include the following:

· Tax Pro accounts

· CAF numbers

· Requests for a CAF77 report to withdraw unneeded power of attorney authorizations

· New automatic first-time penalty abatement

· Executive Order 14247 – guidance for sending and receiving paperless payments

· Tax scams

Agricultural and Natural Resource Tax Issues. This chapter covers several current issues for tax practitioners preparing returns for farmers and ranchers, including the following:

· The definition of farming and when to report income and expenses on Schedule F (Form 1040)

· For profit vs. hobby farming

· Schedule F reporting

· Payments to children

· Form 1099 reporting

· Farm income averaging

Retirement Tax Issues. This chapter explains new issues in retirement tax planning. It discusses changes to catch-up contributions and Roth catch-up contributions. It explains I.R.C. § 457 plans and reviews retirement plans for small businesses. This chapter details social security survivor and death benefits. It explains the tax consequences of a backdoor Roth conversion. Finally, this chapter explains the new eligibility and tax provisions that apply to Trump accounts.

New and Expiring Legislation. This chapter covers recently enacted tax legislation and procedures. It is organized by subject to help participants quickly find topics of interest and includes a table of tax provisions that expired or are set to expire.

Rulings and Cases. This chapter summarizes selected rulings and cases that were issued from September 2025 through August 2026. It gives participants an update on issues that are being addressed by the IRS and the courts.

Tax Rates and Useful Tables. This chapter reports the tax rates, deduction limits, credit limits, and income thresholds and limits that change each year.

South Carolina - Department of Revenue Issues: SC Tax Legislation, SC-DOR Security Updates, and update on South Carolina E-File.

Maintenance of Records:

“We have entered into an agreement with the Office of Director of Practice, Internal Revenue Service, to meet the requirements of 31 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 10.6(g), covering maintenance of attendance records, retention of program outlines, qualifications of instructors and length of class hours. This agreement does not constitute an endorsement by the Director of Practice as to the quality of program or its contribution to the professional competence of the enrolled individual.”

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

If the participant cancels their registration:

1. Over fourteen days of the Course start date: a refund will be granted to the participant to the original method of payment. Per Eventbrite's refund policies: "the refund will include the ticket price minus the Ticketing Fees (which consist of the payment processing fee and the service fee combined."
2. Within fourteen days of the Course start: no refund will be granted; however, all course materials will be sent to the participant. The original participant may substitute his registration to another attendee.
3. Please contact the Tax School via email to [email protected] or phone (864) 656-1625 to cancel attendance and request a refund (if applicable).

If the Tax School cancels the Course:

1. The participant may switch to another date or webinar or receive a full refund to the original method of payment. Per Eventbrite's refund policies: "refunds will be for the entire purchase - that includes the ticket price and the Ticketing Fees."
2. The participant will be notified via email from the following address: [email protected]. If no confirmation by the participant has been received within seven days of Course start, the participant will be notified via phone from (864) 656-1625. Furthermore, Course cancellation notifications will be made available at the Clemson Tax School webpage.

If there is a Duplicate Purchases:

Per Eventbrite's refund policies: "as long as buyers request a refund within seven days of purchase, they will get a full refund for duplicate charges - that includes the ticket price and the Ticketing Fees."

For further references, please see Eventbrite's Refund Policies at: https://www.eventbrite.com/help/en-us/articles/548304/is-the-eventbrite-fee-refundable/

Further information:

Please visit our Tax School website to access all the program detailed information at:

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/taxschool/income-tax.html

PROMOTIONAL CODE is available for pre-approved SC-DOR employees only.

Agenda Day 1

🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:20 AM
Registration Opens - Sign in
🕑: 08:20 AM - 08:30 AM
Announcements
🕑: 08:30 AM - 10:10 AM
Federal Tax Law Updates
🕑: 10:10 AM - 10:20 AM
Morning Break
🕑: 10:20 AM - 11:10 AM
Federal Tax Law Updates (Continued)
🕑: 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Federal Income Tax Topics
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Lunch Break
🕑: 12:50 PM - 02:30 PM
Federal Income Tax Topics (Continued)
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:50 PM
Afternoon Break
🕑: 02:50 PM - 04:30 PM
Federal Income Tax Topics (Continued)
🕑: 04:30 PM - 04:40 PM
Last Break
🕑: 04:40 PM - 05:30 PM
Federal Income Tax Topics (Continued)
🕑: 05:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Adjourn
Agenda Day 2

🕑: 07:30 AM - 07:50 AM
Sign-In
🕑: 07:50 AM - 08:00 AM
Announcements
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:15 AM
South Carolina Tax Issues: South Carolina Department of Revenue
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:25 AM
Morning Break
🕑: 09:25 AM - 11:05 AM
Federal Income Tax Topics
🕑: 11:05 AM - 11:15 AM
Morning Break
🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
IRS Federal Tax Issues: Evette Davis, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, IRS
🕑: 12:05 PM - 12:55 PM
Lunch Break
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:20 PM
IRS Federal Tax Issues: Evette Davis, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, IRS
🕑: 01:20 PM - 03:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Program Faculty
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:20 PM
Afternoon Break
🕑: 03:20 PM - 05:20 PM
Federal Ethics: Professional Standards and Conduct
🕑: 05:20 PM - 05:20 PM
Adjourn