Current for the 2026-2027 EA examPSI scheduling update
EA Exam Part 1 / Preliminary Work and Taxpayer Data

Taxable and Nontaxable Income Intake

Learn the decision pattern the exam can test, then apply it to a realistic taxpayer fact pattern.

By Jordan AshbyUpdated August 13, 2026Official IRS source below
Part 1Individuals
14 of 85questions in this domain
One decisionto practice before moving on

What changes the answer?

A missing information return does not make income nontaxable, and receiving a form does not always make the full amount taxable.

A tax-practice scenario

A client was paid partly in cash and partly with services. Reconstruct fair value and identify whether an exclusion applies.

How to approach it

Identify the taxpayer, entity, transaction, and tax period first. Write the controlling tests in order, apply only the relevant facts, and keep the reporting result separate from any planning recommendation.

Do not take this shortcut.

Using the tax forms received as a complete definition of gross income.

Turn the rule into recall.

Practice classifying each receipt by source, realization event, possible exclusion, and reporting location.

  1. ExplainState the governing distinction without notes.
  2. ApplyChange one fact in the scenario and predict the new result.
  3. RetrieveAnswer an unseen question, then review every option.

Official source and scope

This lesson follows the current PSI content outline and uses the IRS reference below for the underlying tax or practice framework. Always confirm current forms, instructions, thresholds, and effective dates before advising a taxpayer.