By Ryan McGeeney
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
As they say, there are only two guarantees in life. The Cooperative Extension Service can help professional tax preparers get ready for at least one of them.
The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, will offer four in-person sessions for its annual Income Tax School this November, as well as one online session in December. The program is designed to help professional tax professionals prepare for the upcoming tax season. Both the in-person and virtual options are two-day commitments.
Kimberly Magee, extension economic development program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said the schools are considered advanced courses.
“Our school is intended for anyone in the accounting field,” Magee said. “It does provide 16 hours of continuing professional education for those who are seeking it.”
Magee said each two-day course will focus on new tax laws and changes to existing tax laws for the 2026 season.
“We’re returning this year with updated federal tax content focused on the issues tax professionals are watching most closely heading into filing season,” she said. “This year’s program will cover late-year tax law developments, Internal Revenue Service guidance changes, business and individual tax issues, planning considerations and real-world filing challenges affecting practitioners now.
“Past participants have found it very helpful to be able to ask questions to our experienced instructors,” Magee said. “Questions can be asked during the seminar or saved until afterward.”
In-person participants can feel free to bring questions to class with them as well, she said.
This year’s instructors include William Laird, a retired IRS agent and Certified Public Accountant and Curtis Davis, CPA.
This year’s scheduled sessions include:
FAYETTEVILLE
November 2-3 (Monday & Tuesday)
Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences
1311 Altheimer Drive
Fayetteville, AR 72704
JONESBORO
November 9-10 (Monday & Tuesday)
ASU Delta Center for Economic Development
319 University Loop
Jonesboro, AR 72401
HOPE
November 19-20 (Thursday & Friday)
U of A Hope-Texarkana
Hempstead Hall
2500 S Main Street
Hope, AR 71801
LITTLE ROCK
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 (Monday & Tuesday)
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
VIRTUAL
December 3-4 (Thursday & Friday)
Online via Zoom
The cost to attend any of the course sessions is $270 for those registering on or before August 24. After Aug. 24, the cost increases to $320. To register for a course, visit https://uada.formstack.com/forms/tax.
For more information, contact Magee at 501-671-2081or kmagee@uada.edu or Jess Blackwell, extension administrative specialist for the Division of Agriculture, at 501-671-2091 or jblackwell@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
