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US Corporate Income Taxation and Policies

US Corporate Income Taxation and Policies

This course is part of Everyday Tax Concepts: US Individual, Corporate & Estate Tax Specialization

Instructor: Cody Warren, CFP®, CPA

Included with

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8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Understand corporate income taxation, including double taxation and how tax policy shapes business decisions.
Compare S-Corps and C-Corps, and evaluate tax impacts of corporate formation, rates, and recent reforms.
Identify corporate tax benefits, liabilities, and forms, and navigate filing returns and major transactions.

Skills you'll gain

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Everyday Tax Concepts: US Individual, Corporate & Estate Tax Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 8 modules in this course

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to United States (US) Corporate Income Tax and Policies, tailored for beginners with a basic understanding of individual income tax.

Participants will learn about the significance of corporate income taxation, the concept of double taxation, and how corporate tax policies influence business decisions. The course will also cover recent tax reforms, the impact of corporate tax rates on economic growth, and the formation of corporations, including a comparison of S-Corporations and C-Corporations from a tax perspective. Additionally, learners will explore tax benefits, liabilities, key tax forms, and the process of filing corporate tax returns, along with the implications of corporate mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring.

Module details

This module begins with the big picture: why corporate income tax exists, who it affects, and how tax policy shapes business and the economy in the United States (US). This module also grounds learners in core concepts and current policy context so they can see why subsequent technical details matter for real companies and careers in accounting, finance, or tax compliance.

What's included

3 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

3 videosTotal 8 minutes

Welcome to US Corporate Income Tax and Policies1 minute
Why Corporate Income Tax Matters in the US3 minutes
How Tax Policy Shapes Corporate Decisions: Examples and Walkthroughs4 minutes

3 readingsTotal 25 minutes

Resource: Annual Limits Guide5 minutes
Core Concepts: Corporate Tax Basics and Double Taxation10 minutes
History of US Corporate Taxation10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Knowledge Check: Corporate Tax Basics30 minutes
Graded Assessment: Corporate Tax Basics30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Discussion: Evaluating Double Taxation and Policy Trade-Offs10 minutes

Learn the practical steps to form a corporation and how the choice of entity drives tax outcomes. This module helps beginners compare C‑Corporations and S‑Corporations, understand shareholder roles, and evaluate tax trade-offs that influence formation choices.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

2 videosTotal 7 minutes

Why Entity Choice Matters for Founders and Tax Outcomes4 minutes
How: Step-by-Step Formation Process for a Corporation4 minutes

2 readingsTotal 25 minutes

Key Concepts: C Corporation vs S Corporation, Basic Tax Terms10 minutes
How Taxes Differ: Illustrated Examples of S-Corp and C-Corp Outcomes15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Knowledge Check: Formation Steps and Tax Effects30 minutes
Graded Assessment: Formation Steps and Tax Effects30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Discussion: Shareholder Roles, Compensation, and Tax Consequences10 minutes

Translate tax rules into numbers and paperwork: compute basic corporate tax liability, recognize common credits and deductions, and learn the main forms and filing steps corporations use. This module prepares learners to read a corporate tax return and understand the administrative traps like AMT and filing requirements.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

2 videosTotal 5 minutes

Why Calculating Corporate Tax and Filing Correctly Matters3 minutes
Step-by-Step Calculation of Corporate Tax Liability (Worked Example)3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Core Concepts — Taxable Income, Credits, Deductions, and Filing Windows15 minutes
Apply: Compute Tax Liability for a Sample Corporation15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Knowledge Check: Compute Tax, Apply Credits, and Complete Form Fields30 minutes
Graded Assessment: Compute Tax, Apply Credits, and Complete Form Fields30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Reflection Discussion: Filing Steps, Common Administrative Traps, and AMT Considerations10 minutes

Explore how corporations return value to owners and the distinct tax consequences of each method. Learners will compare cash and property distributions, understand accumulated earnings tax risks, and analyze the tax treatment of liquidations and dividends in realistic scenarios.

What's included

3 videos2 readings2 assignments

3 videosTotal 13 minutes

Why Distributions, Dividends, and Liquidations Matter for Owners and Advisors3 minutes
Tax Treatment of Cash and Property Distributions4 minutes
Accumulated Earnings Tax and Sample Scenarios 7 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Core Concepts: Types of Distributions, Basis, and Tax Terminology15 minutes
Case Study — Tax Consequences of a Property Distribution and a Corporate Liquidation15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Knowledge Check: Distributions, Dividends, AET, and Liquidations30 minutes
Graded Assessment: Distributions, Dividends, AET, and Liquidation30 minutes

Understand tax rules that apply when corporations restructure, merge, or dissolve. This module covers dissolution procedures, tax consequences of reorganizations and M&A transactions, and practical tax considerations firms weigh during structural change.

What's included

2 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

2 videosTotal 9 minutes

Why Corporate Restructuring, M&A, and Dissolution Matter3 minutes
Walkthrough — Tax Mechanics of a Corporate Dissolution (Worked Example)5 minutes

3 readingsTotal 45 minutes

Core Tax Concepts for Dissolution, Reorganization, and M&A10 minutes
Tax Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions15 minutes
Tax Treatment of Corporate Reorganizations (Types and Tests)20 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Knowledge Check: Dissolution, Reorganizations, and M&A Tax Treatment30 minutes
Graded Assessment: Dissolution, Reorganizations, and M&A Tax Treatment30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Reflection Discussion: Lessons Learned and Implications for Practice10 minutes

Cover the administrative side of corporate taxation: the IRS’s role, common compliance pitfalls, penalties, and how advisors support corporations. Learners will see how enforcement shapes corporate behavior and the practical steps firms take to meet obligations.

What's included

2 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

2 videosTotal 9 minutes

Why Enforcement Matters: IRS, Corporate Behavior, and Real-World Stakes4 minutes
How Enforcement Works: Case Walkthrough of an IRS Corporate Audit5 minutes

3 readingsTotal 40 minutes

IRS Structure, Enforcement Authorities, and Common Compliance Pitfalls15 minutes
What Advisors Do: Professional Roles, Ethical Duties, and Engagement Models15 minutes
Tax Shelters, Abusive Transactions, and Legal Implications 10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Knowledge Check: Penalties, Procedures, and Advisor Responses30 minutes
Graded Assessment: Penalties, Procedures, and Advisor Responses30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Reflection: Advisor Choices and Stakeholder Trade-Offs10 minutes

Conclude with the practical patchwork of state corporate taxes and an integrative capstone that asks learners to apply course concepts to a realistic corporate tax scenario. This final module helps learners synthesize federal and state rules and demonstrate applied competence.