Free IRS Enrolled Agent SEE Part 1 (Individuals) Formula and Limits Sheet (2026)

Every EA Part 1 formula you need on the test, grouped by topic, rendered with full math notation. 48 formulas across 6 topics, calibrated to the 2026 syllabus. Free forever, no signup required.

48 Items
6 Topics
2026 Syllabus
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All EA Part 1 Formulas

Preliminary Work and Taxpayer Data 4 items
Substantial Presence Test (weighted day count)
D=d0+13d−1+16d−2D = d_0 + \tfrac{1}{3} d_{-1} + \tfrac{1}{6} d_{-2} — d₀ = days in current year (≥31 required), d₋₁ = days prior year, d₋₂ = days two years prior; resident if D ≥ 183
Child and Dependent Care Credit
CDCC=r×min⁡(E,C)CDCC = r \times \min(E, C) — r = 20–35% (AGI-based, floors at 20% over $43,000), E = qualified care expenses, C = $3,000 cap for 1 qualifying person or $6,000 for 2+
Kiddie tax on a child's unearned income
T=(U−2700)×tp+1350×tcT = (U - 2700) \times t_p + 1350 \times t_c — U = child's unearned income (>$2,700), t_p = parent's marginal rate, t_c = child's rate on the second $1,350; first $1,350 untaxed
MAGI for Premium Tax Credit
MAGI=AGI+Itax-exempt+FEIEexcluded+SSexcludedMAGI = AGI + I_{tax\text{-}exempt} + FEIE_{excluded} + SS_{excluded} — AGI = adjusted gross income, plus tax-exempt interest, excluded foreign earned income, and excluded Social Security benefits
Income and Assets 4 items
Provisional income for Social Security taxability
PI=AGI+TEI+0.5×SSPI = AGI + TEI + 0.5 \times SS — AGI = adjusted gross income (excl. SS), TEI = tax-exempt municipal interest, SS = gross Social Security benefits
Self-employment tax
SEtax=(NE×0.9235)×0.153SE_{tax} = (NE \times 0.9235) \times 0.153 — NE = net Schedule C earnings, 0.9235 strips employer-side SE, 0.153 = 12.4% SS (to $176,100) + 2.9% Medicare
Installment sale gross profit ratio
GPR=Gross profitContract priceGPR = \dfrac{Gross\ profit}{Contract\ price} — gross profit = sale price − adjusted basis − selling expenses; contract price = total payments due (Form 6252)
IRA pro-rata taxable distribution
Taxable=D×(1−BV)Taxable = D \times \left(1 - \dfrac{B}{V}\right) — D = distribution, B = total nondeductible basis (Form 8606), V = aggregate traditional IRA value before distribution
Deductions and Credits 4 items
Foreign tax credit limit
FTC Limit=TUS×TIFTI\text{FTC Limit} = T_{US} \times \frac{TI_F}{TI} — T_US = U.S. tax before FTC, TI_F = foreign-source taxable income, TI = total taxable income
Personal casualty loss deduction (federally declared disaster)
L=min⁡(ΔFMV, B)−I−100−0.10×AGIL = \min(\Delta FMV,\ B) - I - 100 - 0.10 \times AGI — ΔFMV = decline in FMV, B = adjusted basis, I = insurance reimbursement, applied per event
QBI W-2 wage and UBIA limit (above threshold)
Limit=max⁡(0.50×W, 0.25×W+0.025×U)\text{Limit} = \max(0.50 \times W,\ 0.25 \times W + 0.025 \times U) — W = W-2 wages of the qualified trade/business, U = UBIA of qualified property
American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)
AOTC=1.00×min⁡(QE,2000)+0.25×min⁡(max⁡(QE−2000,0),2000)AOTC = 1.00 \times \min(QE, 2000) + 0.25 \times \min(\max(QE - 2000, 0), 2000) — QE = qualified education expenses; max $2,500/student, 40% refundable
Taxation 4 items
Tentative alternative minimum tax
TMT=r×(AMTI−E)\text{TMT} = r \times (\text{AMTI} - E) — AMTI = alt min taxable income, E = exemption, r = 26% on first $239,100 then 28% above
Incentive stock option bargain element (AMT preference)
Bargain=(FMV−X)×N\text{Bargain} = (\text{FMV} - X) \times N — FMV = fair market value at exercise, X = exercise price, N = shares exercised and held past year-end
Additional Medicare tax
AddlMed=0.009×(Wages+SE−T)\text{AddlMed} = 0.009 \times (\text{Wages} + \text{SE} - T) — SE = self-employment earnings, T = threshold ($200K single, $250K MFJ, $125K MFS)
Net investment income tax (NIIT)
NIIT=0.038×min⁡(NII, MAGI−T)\text{NIIT} = 0.038 \times \min(\text{NII},\ \text{MAGI} - T) — NII = net investment income, MAGI = modified AGI, T = threshold ($200K single, $250K MFJ, $125K MFS)
Advising the Individual Taxpayer 4 items
Section 121 principal residence gain exclusion
E=min⁡(G, L)E = \min(G,\ L) — G = realized gain, L = $250{,}000 single or $500{,}000 MFJ; requires 2-of-5-year ownership and use
Required minimum distribution (RMD)
RMD=BpriorFULTRMD = \dfrac{B_{prior}}{F_{ULT}} — B_prior = prior year-end IRA balance, F_ULT = Uniform Lifetime Table divisor for current age (begins age 73)
Lifetime Learning Credit
LLC=0.20×min⁡(QE, $10,000)LLC = 0.20 \times \min(QE,\ \$10{,}000) — QE = qualified post-secondary expenses per return; max $2{,}000, nonrefundable, phaseout $80K/$160K
Section 6654 estimated tax safe harbor payment
Psafe=min⁡(0.90⋅Tcur, k⋅Tpri)P_{safe} = \min(0.90 \cdot T_{cur},\ k \cdot T_{pri}) — T_cur = current-year tax, T_pri = prior-year tax, k = 1.00 (1.10 if prior AGI > $150{,}000)
Specialized Returns for Individuals 4 items
Tentative estate and gift tax above the \$1M base
T=$345,800+0.40×(B−$1,000,000)T = \$345{,}800 + 0.40 \times (B - \$1{,}000{,}000) — B = tax base (taxable estate + adjusted taxable gifts), 40% is the top unified rate above $1M
Spousal JTWROS gross estate inclusion
Included=0.50×FMV\text{Included} = 0.50 \times FMV — FMV = fair market value of property held JTWROS with U.S. citizen spouse under §2040(b), regardless of who furnished consideration
Taxable estate
TE=GE−(Funeral+Admin+Debts+Casualty+Charitable+Marital)TE = GE - (\text{Funeral} + \text{Admin} + \text{Debts} + \text{Casualty} + \text{Charitable} + \text{Marital}) — GE = gross estate at FMV (or alternate valuation date)
Federal estate tax with unified credit
Estate Tax=T(TE+ATG)−GTP−UC\text{Estate Tax} = T(TE + ATG) - GTP - UC — TE = taxable estate, ATG = adjusted taxable gifts, GTP = gift tax payable on prior gifts, UC = unified credit ($5,389,800 in 2025)

EA Part 1 Limits and Thresholds

Preliminary Work and Taxpayer Data 4 items
CTC is $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, refundable up to $1,700 as ACTC.
FBAR (FinCEN 114) is required when aggregate foreign accounts exceed $10,000 at any point in the year.
2025 FEIE caps the foreign earned income exclusion at $130,000, with a foreign housing base of $20,800.
2025 standard deductions: $15,000 single/MFS, $30,000 MFJ/QSS, $22,500 HoH.
Income and Assets 4 items
§121 excludes up to $250,000 single / $500,000 MFJ of gain on a principal residence with 2-of-5-year ownership and use tests.
QCDs are available at age 70½, capped at $108,000 per year (2025), and count toward the RMD while excluded from AGI.
Net capital losses offset ordinary income up to $3,000 ($1,500 MFS), with remainder carrying forward indefinitely.
RMDs begin at age 73 under SECURE 2.0; the failure-to-take penalty is 25% of the shortfall, reduced to 10% if corrected within 2 years.
Deductions and Credits 4 items
QBI phase-in begins at taxable income of $197,300 single/HoH/MFS and $394,600 MFJ for 2025.
CTC is $2,000 per qualifying child under 17 with up to $1,700 refundable as ACTC, and ODC is $500 for other dependents.
Acquisition mortgage interest is deductible on debt up to $750,000 for loans after 12/15/2017 and $1,000,000 grandfathered for pre-12/16/2017 loans.
The 2025 SALT cap is $10,000 combined ($5,000 MFS) across state income, sales, real estate, and personal property tax.
Taxation 4 items
Form 2210 safe harbor: pay 90% of current-year tax or 100% of prior-year (110% if prior AGI > $150,000).
Schedule H 2025: cash wages of $2,800 to one household employee triggers FICA; $1,000 in any quarter triggers FUTA on the first $7,000.
NIIT is 3.8% and Additional Medicare is 0.9%, both keyed to thresholds of $200,000 single / $250,000 MFJ / $125,000 MFS.
2025 AMT exemption: $88,100 single, $137,000 MFJ, with phaseout starting at AMTI $626,350 single / $1,252,700 MFJ.
Advising the Individual Taxpayer 4 items
2025 gift annual exclusion is $19,000 per donee, with a lifetime gift/estate exemption of $13.99M reported on Form 709.
§72(t) 10% early-withdrawal penalty applies before age 59½; first-time homebuyer IRA exception is capped at $10,000 lifetime.
§6654 estimated-tax safe harbor: pay 90% current or 100% prior, rising to 110% if prior AGI exceeds $150,000.
§6511 refund claim deadline is later of 3 years from filing or 2 years from payment, filed on Form 1040-X.
Specialized Returns for Individuals 4 items
The 2025 unified gift/estate exemption is $13.99M with a $19,000 annual gift exclusion per donee and a top rate of 40%.
Under §2040(b), spousal JTWROS includes exactly 50% in the first decedent's gross estate regardless of who furnished consideration.
A foreign gift from a nonresident individual exceeding $100,000 triggers Form 3520 reporting, but is not taxable income to the recipient.
Form 706 is due 9 months after the date of death, and Form 4768 grants a 6-month extension to file.

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