EnrolledAgentKit

EA Part 2 study guide

Study Part 2 in the order the IRS weights it, memorize the 2025 figures the exam uses, and finish with timed 100-question sets; this guide lays that out domain by domain.

Updated 2026-09-23 · 4 sources · By the EnrolledAgentKit team

Official Part 2 domains (IRS content specifications)

Source: IRS - SEE Part 2 content specifications (Businesses). Each part also has 15 unscored pretest questions.
DomainScored questionsShare
Business Entities and Considerations3035%
Business Tax Preparation3744%
Specialized Returns and Taxpayers1821%

Total scored

85100%

Domain checklist

  • Business Entities and Considerations (30 questions). Work the topic guides and drill until you score 70%+ on new questions.
  • Business Tax Preparation (37 questions). Work the topic guides and drill until you score 70%+ on new questions.
  • Specialized Returns and Taxpayers (18 questions). Work the topic guides and drill until you score 70%+ on new questions.

Must-know 2025 numbers for Part 2

The 2026-27 SEE tests law through Dec. 31, 2025. Verify any figure against the cited source.
Item2025 amount / ruleSource
Section 179 limit / phase-out start$2,500,000 / $4,000,000OBBBA
Bonus depreciation (acquired after Jan 19, 2025)100%OBBBA
Section 179 SUV cap$31,300Rev. Proc. 2024-40
QBI threshold (single / MFJ)$197,300 / $394,600Rev. Proc. 2024-40
Gross receipts test (cash method, UNICAP)$31,000,000Rev. Proc. 2024-40
Excess business loss limit (single / MFJ)$313,000 / $626,000Rev. Proc. 2024-40
Business standard mileage rate70 centsIRS Notice 2025-5
SEP limit / 401(k) deferral / SIMPLE deferral$70,000 / $23,500 / $16,500IRS Notice 2024-80
Trust top bracket (37%) starts at$15,650Rev. Proc. 2024-40
Partnership / S corp late-filing penalty (returns due 2026)$255 per partner/shareholder per monthRev. Proc. 2024-40
Corporate tax rate21% flatIRC 11

Traps that cost points

  • S corporation basis ordering: income first, then distributions, then nondeductible expenses, then losses. Debt basis comes only from direct shareholder loans, not guarantees.
  • Partnership liabilities change outside basis; relief of liabilities is a deemed cash distribution that can trigger gain.
  • Section 179 is limited to business income; bonus depreciation is not.
  • Unrecaptured section 1250 gain (25% max) is not ordinary recapture for individuals.

A 6-week plan (about 10-15 hours a week)

  1. Weeks 1-2: biggest domain

    Read and drill Business Tax Preparation. Do 25-40 questions a day.

  2. Weeks 3-4: next domains

    Cover the remaining domains in weight order; keep a mistakes log.

  3. Week 5: numbers and traps

    Memorize the 2025 figures table above; re-drill every missed question.

  4. Week 6: full-length practice

    Do timed 100-question sets (3.5 hours). Book the exam when you clear 70-75% across domains.

Topic guides

Partnership basis (outside and inside)Rules, worked example and practice questionsS corporation shareholder basisRules, worked example and practice questionsForming a corporation: Section 351Rules, worked example and practice questionsMACRS depreciationRules, worked example and practice questionsSection 179 and bonus depreciationRules, worked example and practice questionsSections 1231, 1245 and 1250 (depreciation recapture)Rules, worked example and practice questionsQualified business income (QBI) deductionRules, worked example and practice questionsPassive activity losses and rental propertyRules, worked example and practice questions

Build your own plan

Hour ranges are editorial estimates; the biggest-domain share uses the IRS question counts.

Planning estimates only. Domain weights from the IRS SEE content specifications; hour ranges are EnrolledAgentKit editorial estimates.

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Frequently asked questions

How long should I study for Part 2?

Our editorial estimate is 50-80 hours, less if you prepare returns in this area daily. The IRS does not publish a recommended number.

Do I need 2026 numbers?

No. The 2026-27 exam tests 2025 law. Using 2026 amounts is a common way to pick a wrong answer.

Sources

  1. IRS - SEE Part 2 content specifications (Businesses) (accessed 2026-09-23)
  2. IRS - Enrolled agents: Frequently asked questions (accessed 2026-09-23)
  3. IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40 - 2025 inflation adjustments (accessed 2026-09-23)
  4. IRS - One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions (P.L. 119-21) (accessed 2026-09-23)
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