Lambo Tax Preparation AcademyLevel 1 · about 30 hours
Level 1 — Foundations
Level 1 teaches how the tax system works, what a preparer may and may not do, and the end-to-end workflow every return follows, before any specific tax rule. Learners finish it able to run a client appointment and know where to look anything up.
Modules
8 modules · 30 module hours
Open the course| # | Module | Key content | Hours | Mastery gate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | How the US tax system works | Sources of tax law (Code, regulations, rulings, court cases); IRS structure; federal vs state vs local; the tax formula (gross income → AGI → taxable income → tax → credits → payments) | 4 | Tax-formula quiz |
| 1.2 | Being a paid preparer | PTIN, EFIN and the e-file application; Circular 230 for those in its scope; preparer penalties; signing and copy rules; the IRS's voluntary AFSP and the Enrolled Agent path | 4 | Scenario quiz: may I do this? |
| 1.3 | Ethics and due diligence | Knowledge, documentation, computation and record-keeping duties; Form 8867 for EITC, CTC/ACTC/ODC, AOTC and head of household; the per-failure penalty ($650 for returns filed in 2026, indexed each year) | 5 | Due-diligence interview role play |
| 1.4 | Data security and privacy | IRS Pub 4557; the FTC Safeguards Rule and a written information security plan; Section 7216 consent to use or disclose return information; identity theft and IP PINs | 3 | Draft a one-page security plan |
| 1.5 | Tax research | Form instructions, IRS publications, the Code and regs, IRS.gov tools, software help files; citing a source for every position | 3 | Research scavenger hunt |
| 1.6 | The preparation workflow | Engagement letter → intake questionnaire → document collection → preparation → self-review → quality review → client review and signature (Form 8879) → e-file → acknowledgments and rejects → recordkeeping | 5 | Map a return through the workflow |
| 1.7 | Client interview skills | Open vs closed questions, probing for unreported income, explaining results, saying no to a bad position | 3 | Recorded mock interview |
| 1.8 | Filing season mechanics | Due dates and extensions, estimated payments, amended returns, prior-year returns, IRS notices and transcripts, refund timing and the free-filing landscape (the IRS dropped Direct File for the 2026 filing season) | 3 | Calendar exercise |
1.1
Module
How the US tax system works
Key content
Sources of tax law (Code, regulations, rulings, court cases); IRS structure; federal vs state vs local; the tax formula (gross income → AGI → taxable income → tax → credits → payments)
Hours
4
Mastery gate
Tax-formula quiz
1.2
Module
Being a paid preparer
Key content
PTIN, EFIN and the e-file application; Circular 230 for those in its scope; preparer penalties; signing and copy rules; the IRS's voluntary AFSP and the Enrolled Agent path
Hours
4
Mastery gate
Scenario quiz: may I do this?
1.3
Module
Ethics and due diligence
Key content
Knowledge, documentation, computation and record-keeping duties; Form 8867 for EITC, CTC/ACTC/ODC, AOTC and head of household; the per-failure penalty ($650 for returns filed in 2026, indexed each year)
Hours
5
Mastery gate
Due-diligence interview role play
1.4
Module
Data security and privacy
Key content
IRS Pub 4557; the FTC Safeguards Rule and a written information security plan; Section 7216 consent to use or disclose return information; identity theft and IP PINs
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Draft a one-page security plan
1.5
Module
Tax research
Key content
Form instructions, IRS publications, the Code and regs, IRS.gov tools, software help files; citing a source for every position
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Research scavenger hunt
1.6
Module
The preparation workflow
Key content
Engagement letter → intake questionnaire → document collection → preparation → self-review → quality review → client review and signature (Form 8879) → e-file → acknowledgments and rejects → recordkeeping
Hours
5
Mastery gate
Map a return through the workflow
1.7
Module
Client interview skills
Key content
Open vs closed questions, probing for unreported income, explaining results, saying no to a bad position
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Recorded mock interview
1.8
Module
Filing season mechanics
Key content
Due dates and extensions, estimated payments, amended returns, prior-year returns, IRS notices and transcripts, refund timing and the free-filing landscape (the IRS dropped Direct File for the 2026 filing season)
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Calendar exercise
| Key content | Hours | Mastery gate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 How the US tax system works | Sources of tax law (Code, regulations, rulings, court cases); IRS structure; federal vs state vs local; the tax formula (gross income → AGI → taxable income → tax → credits → payments) | 4 | Tax-formula quiz |
| 1.2 Being a paid preparer | PTIN, EFIN and the e-file application; Circular 230 for those in its scope; preparer penalties; signing and copy rules; the IRS's voluntary AFSP and the Enrolled Agent path | 4 | Scenario quiz: may I do this? |
| 1.3 Ethics and due diligence | Knowledge, documentation, computation and record-keeping duties; Form 8867 for EITC, CTC/ACTC/ODC, AOTC and head of household; the per-failure penalty ($650 for returns filed in 2026, indexed each year) | 5 | Due-diligence interview role play |
| 1.4 Data security and privacy | IRS Pub 4557; the FTC Safeguards Rule and a written information security plan; Section 7216 consent to use or disclose return information; identity theft and IP PINs | 3 | Draft a one-page security plan |
| 1.5 Tax research | Form instructions, IRS publications, the Code and regs, IRS.gov tools, software help files; citing a source for every position | 3 | Research scavenger hunt |
| 1.6 The preparation workflow | Engagement letter → intake questionnaire → document collection → preparation → self-review → quality review → client review and signature (Form 8879) → e-file → acknowledgments and rejects → recordkeeping | 5 | Map a return through the workflow |
| 1.7 Client interview skills | Open vs closed questions, probing for unreported income, explaining results, saying no to a bad position | 3 | Recorded mock interview |
| 1.8 Filing season mechanics | Due dates and extensions, estimated payments, amended returns, prior-year returns, IRS notices and transcripts, refund timing and the free-filing landscape (the IRS dropped Direct File for the 2026 filing season) | 3 | Calendar exercise |
1.1 How the US tax system works
Key content
Sources of tax law (Code, regulations, rulings, court cases); IRS structure; federal vs state vs local; the tax formula (gross income → AGI → taxable income → tax → credits → payments)
Hours
4
Mastery gate
Tax-formula quiz
1.2 Being a paid preparer
Key content
PTIN, EFIN and the e-file application; Circular 230 for those in its scope; preparer penalties; signing and copy rules; the IRS's voluntary AFSP and the Enrolled Agent path
Hours
4
Mastery gate
Scenario quiz: may I do this?
1.3 Ethics and due diligence
Key content
Knowledge, documentation, computation and record-keeping duties; Form 8867 for EITC, CTC/ACTC/ODC, AOTC and head of household; the per-failure penalty ($650 for returns filed in 2026, indexed each year)
Hours
5
Mastery gate
Due-diligence interview role play
1.4 Data security and privacy
Key content
IRS Pub 4557; the FTC Safeguards Rule and a written information security plan; Section 7216 consent to use or disclose return information; identity theft and IP PINs
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Draft a one-page security plan
1.5 Tax research
Key content
Form instructions, IRS publications, the Code and regs, IRS.gov tools, software help files; citing a source for every position
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Research scavenger hunt
1.6 The preparation workflow
Key content
Engagement letter → intake questionnaire → document collection → preparation → self-review → quality review → client review and signature (Form 8879) → e-file → acknowledgments and rejects → recordkeeping
Hours
5
Mastery gate
Map a return through the workflow
1.7 Client interview skills
Key content
Open vs closed questions, probing for unreported income, explaining results, saying no to a bad position
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Recorded mock interview
1.8 Filing season mechanics
Key content
Due dates and extensions, estimated payments, amended returns, prior-year returns, IRS notices and transcripts, refund timing and the free-filing landscape (the IRS dropped Direct File for the 2026 filing season)
Hours
3
Mastery gate
Calendar exercise
Mastery gates
Every module above ends in the mastery gate listed in its row. Each module ends in a return or quiz that must score 85% or higher (returns: zero material errors) before the next unlocks.
Level 1 capstone
A mock client appointment from greeting to signed Form 8879, using a simple W-2 return prepared on paper.
Job aids
Level 1 job aids learners build: a client intake sheet, a document checklist by client type, a due-diligence question bank, a research-source map, and a review checklist they keep refining through Level 4.
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