Core section study guide

REG CPA Exam Study Guide: Format, Topics, and Study Plan

Learn ethics, business law, and taxation, then connect the rules in a study plan for exam day.

Quick answer

Taxation and Regulation is a required Core section. It combines ethics and federal tax procedures, business law, property transactions, individual taxation, and entity taxation. Tax questions become easier to organize when you classify the taxpayer, transaction, timing, and limitation before calculating. Use this guide to understand the exam, plan what to learn, and find explanations for each REG topic.

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REG format and score weight

REG is a 4-hour Core section. Its two MCQ testlets contain 36 and 36 questions. Its three TBS testlets contain 2, 3, 3 tasks. The testlets total 72 MCQs and 8 TBSs.

Section type

Core

Testing time

4 hours

Multiple-choice

72 MCQs · 50%

Simulations

8 TBSs · 50%

Current REG content areas

Use these ranges to allocate coverage, then adjust for your own practice results. The ranges do not predict the exact number of questions or tasks on an individual exam.

Area	Official content area	Score allocation
I	Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and Federal Tax Procedures	10-20%
II	Business Law	15-25%
III	Federal Taxation of Property Transactions	5-15%
IV	Federal Taxation of Individuals	22-32%
V	Federal Taxation of Entities (including tax preparation)	23-33%

Official exam sources

Blueprint tasks are representative, not exhaustive. The number of listed tasks does not establish content weight or predict the exact questions a candidate will receive.

Open the official Blueprint Learn how to use the Blueprint Review all CPA Exam sections

Tax rules for your exam

Tax rules depend on your exam date. Confirm which provisions fall within the REG Blueprint and are eligible for testing before choosing study materials.

Read the official AICPA notice

Free REG PDF pack

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Your REG study sequence

This is CPAPass study guidance, not an official timetable. Adjust the time you spend at each stage to your starting knowledge, schedule, and understanding of the material.

Stage 1 of 5

Ethics and business law

Learn professional responsibilities, federal tax procedure, and business-law relationships through videos and lectures. Reinforce key duties and terms with flashcards.

What to produce: A comparison of the parties, duties, and possible consequences in each legal relationship.
Move on when: You can distinguish a question about legal rights from one about a tax calculation.

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1. Ethics and business law

Learn professional responsibilities, federal tax procedure, and business-law relationships through videos and lectures. Reinforce key duties and terms with flashcards.

What to produce: A comparison of the parties, duties, and possible consequences in each legal relationship.

Move on when: You can distinguish a question about legal rights from one about a tax calculation.

2. Individual taxation

Study how income, exclusions, adjustments, deductions, and credits fit into the individual tax calculation. Identify the taxpayer and applicable rules before using a threshold.

What to produce: An annotated path from gross income through taxable income to tax and payments.

Move on when: You can explain where an item belongs and why a deduction and a credit have different effects.

3. Property and basis

Learn how property is acquired, held, and disposed of. Follow examples that separate basis, amount realized, gain or loss, and character.

What to produce: A property worksheet that tracks the basis and tax treatment of each event.

Move on when: You can explain which fact changes the basis or character before recalculating.

4. Entities and owners

Compare C corporations, S corporations, and partnerships through their formation, operations, and distributions. Keep entity and owner calculations separate.

What to produce: A comparison table and separate basis rollforwards for the entity and its owners.

Move on when: You can follow the consequences of a transaction at both the entity and owner levels.

5. Integrated preparation

Confirm that your materials match the rules eligible for your exam date. Combine the topics in timed MCQs and simulations, returning to lessons when an unfamiliar rule appears.

What to produce: A review list linking each knowledge gap to the relevant lesson and applicable tax rule.

Move on when: You can classify the taxpayer, transaction, timing, and limitation before completing the calculation.

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Answer REG questions

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Explore REG topic guides

Find the explanation you need for your next study session.

Ethics and business law

Understand responsibilities, legal relationships, and remedies.

Circular 230 Contract types

View 4 more guides

Debtor-creditor relationships Bankruptcy Agency law Federal tax penalties

Individual taxation

Build the calculation from income to tax and payments.

Gross income and taxable income Tax credits and payments

View 1 more guide

Qualifying child vs. relative

Property transactions

Follow basis, gain or loss, and transaction character.

Gifted vs. inherited property basis Capital gains and losses

View 1 more guide

Wash-sale rule

Entities and owners

Keep entity taxation and owner consequences connected.

C corporation taxation S corporation taxation

View 1 more guide

Partnership taxation

REG study FAQs

How do I choose tax materials for my REG exam date?

Check the current AICPA Blueprint and tax-testing notice before using thresholds or recently changed provisions. Choose materials aligned with the rules eligible for your exam date. Keep the underlying concept separate from a threshold or rule that may change.

How much time should I give each study stage?

Adjust the stages to your starting knowledge, available study time, and understanding of the material. Use each stage's output and move-on check to decide what to revisit. A fixed number of weeks is not a guarantee of readiness.

Can I try REG practice before creating an account?

Yes. The public REG practice questions and explanations are available without registration. The MCQ and TBS PDF samples are requested separately by email. Create a free CPAPass account to learn and prepare with videos, lectures, flashcards, and practice questions in one platform.

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