Tax Credits vs. Deductions — What’s the Real Difference?
Learn how tax credits and deductions differ, which common ones you may qualify for, and how each affects your tax bill.
EA Exam Prep
EA Exam Prep
1098-T vs 1098-E — What’s the Difference?
Learn the key differences between Form 1098-T and Form 1098-E, and which education tax benefits each form unlocks.
EA Exam Prep
What Is a W-2? Boxes, Codes & How to Read It
Form W-2 reports your wages and taxes withheld. Learn what each box means, key Box 12 codes, and new OBBBA changes on the 2026 form.
EA Exam Prep
What Are Tax Brackets? Rates, Thresholds & How They Work
She earns $60,000 — so 22%? Not quite. How tax brackets attach to taxable income, with the trap the EA exam builds around it.
EA Exam Prep
What Is the Standard Deduction? Amounts, Rules & How to Decide
Two age-65 deductions look alike and behave nothing alike. Learn which one itemizing kills — with a Try It question and the citations
EA Exam Prep
What Is Filing Status? 5 Types Explained (+ How to Choose)
On the EA exam, filing status hides its traps in the edges — the “considered unmarried” rule, the parent exception, and the QSS timing that costs candidates points.
EA Exam Prep
What Is MAGI? Modified Adjusted Gross Income Explained
On the EA exam, MAGI is rarely the answer by itself. See the NIIT “lesser of” trap, the 2025 Roth/IRA phase-outs, and where candidates lose points.
EA Exam Prep
What Is Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and Why It Matters for Your Taxes
“I take the standard deduction, so I can’t deduct anything” — the sentence that loses EA exam points. Learn §62 adjustments, the AGI thresholds, and try a practice question.
EA Exam Prep
What Is Taxable Income and How Does It Affect Your Taxes?
On the EA exam, “is this taxable?” is the question that loses points. Learn the §61 mental flip, the §62/§63 layer trap, and constructive receipt — then try a real practice question.