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SimplyCPA

TCP

Discipline

Tax Compliance and Planning

Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP) extends Taxation and Regulation (REG) into planning: individual tax and personal financial planning, entity compliance, entity planning, and property transactions — updated for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It's the natural choice for candidates heading into tax practice.

12 topics157 MCQsHard~85 hrs total study time Official Blueprint

Last updated 5 September 2026

Topics by blueprint area

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#TopicStudyRevisePractice
Area I: Individual Tax Compliance & Personal Financial Planning· 30–40% of the exam
1Individual Tax Planning Strategies

Timing strategies, income shifting, bunching deductions, and managing the character of income.

Study Individual Tax Planning StrategiesRevise Individual Tax Planning Strategies13 MCQs on Individual Tax Planning Strategies
2Personal Financial Planning

Education funding, insurance, and integrating tax planning with a client's broader financial goals.

Study Personal Financial PlanningRevise Personal Financial Planning13 MCQs on Personal Financial Planning
3Retirement Planning Strategies

Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, and sequencing retirement withdrawals.

Study Retirement Planning StrategiesRevise Retirement Planning Strategies13 MCQs on Retirement Planning Strategies
4Estate & Gift Tax Planning

Lifetime gifting strategies, trusts, portability, and the permanent $15 million exemption.

Study Estate & Gift Tax PlanningRevise Estate & Gift Tax Planning14 MCQs on Estate & Gift Tax Planning
5Tax Research & Documentation

The hierarchy of tax authority, research methodology, and documenting a defensible position.

Study Tax Research & DocumentationRevise Tax Research & Documentation13 MCQs on Tax Research & Documentation
Area II: Entity Tax Compliance· 30–40% of the exam
6C Corporation Tax Compliance

Form 1120, corporate taxable income, Schedules M-1, M-2, and M-3, net operating loss (NOL) rules, groups, and estimated taxes.

Study C Corporation Tax ComplianceRevise C Corporation Tax Compliance13 MCQs on C Corporation Tax Compliance
7S Corporation Compliance & Planning

Basis planning, distribution ordering, reasonable compensation, and built-in gains tax.

Study S Corporation Compliance & PlanningRevise S Corporation Compliance & Planning13 MCQs on S Corporation Compliance & Planning
8Partnership Compliance & Planning

Special allocations, distributions, Section 754 elections, and partnership interest transfers.

Study Partnership Compliance & PlanningRevise Partnership Compliance & Planning13 MCQs on Partnership Compliance & Planning
Area III: Entity Tax Planning· 10–20% of the exam
9Entity Choice & Structuring

Selecting and changing entity type, and the tax consequences of conversions.

Study Entity Choice & StructuringRevise Entity Choice & Structuring13 MCQs on Entity Choice & Structuring
10Distributions, Redemptions & Liquidations

Planning around corporate distributions, stock redemptions, and complete liquidations.

Study Distributions, Redemptions & LiquidationsRevise Distributions, Redemptions & Liquidations13 MCQs on Distributions, Redemptions & Liquidations
11Multi-Jurisdictional & International Basics

State nexus concepts, apportionment, and the fundamentals of US international taxation.

Study Multi-Jurisdictional & International BasicsRevise Multi-Jurisdictional & International Basics13 MCQs on Multi-Jurisdictional & International Basics
Area IV: Property Transactions· 10–20% of the exam
12Property Transactions: Advanced Planning

Installment sales, related-party rules, and structuring dispositions to manage timing and character.

Study Property Transactions: Advanced PlanningRevise Property Transactions: Advanced Planning13 MCQs on Property Transactions: Advanced Planning

Area weights are the share of the TCP exam from the AICPA's Uniform CPA Examination Blueprints, 2026 (unchanged for 2027). Official Blueprint