CPA REG — U.S. - Taxation and Regulation Study Plan
A practical Study Plan for AICPA CPA REG with 7, 14, 30, and 60/90 day schedules, mock timing, error review, and final-week rules.
How to use this Study Plan
This independent Study Plan is for candidates preparing for the AICPA U.S. CPA REG - Taxation and Regulation exam, code CPA REG.
CPA REG preparation is not just rule memorization. You need to move quickly between tax facts, entity type, filing position, basis, character of income or loss, business law concepts, and professional responsibility rules. Your schedule should therefore include:
- Short rule review
- Timed multiple-choice practice
- Task-based simulation practice
- Calculation templates
- Missed-question review
- Full timed mocks only when you can review them properly
Use the plan that matches your remaining time. If you are already strong in tax, you can compress the schedule. If you are weak in basis, entity taxation, or business law vocabulary, choose the longer path.
Which plan should you use?
| Time available | Best for | Main goal | Daily time target | Mock exam use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Final review or emergency triage | Convert weak areas into predictable points | 2.5 to 5 hours | 1 timed mock or half mock, then review |
| 14 days | Candidates who already completed most content | Rebuild weak topics and improve timing | 2 to 4 hours | 1 diagnostic set and 1 full mock |
| 30 days | Balanced preparation | Complete review, drill, integrate, and test readiness | 1.5 to 3 hours weekdays, longer weekends | Diagnostic, midpoint timed set, 2 mocks |
| 60 days | Starting with some accounting/tax background | Full first pass plus layered review | 8 to 12 hours weekly | 2 to 3 mocks in final phase |
| 90 days | Starting early, working full-time, or weak in tax | Steady content build and durable retention | 5 to 8 hours weekly | 2 to 3 mocks after first pass |
If you have less than two weeks left and have not studied yet, do not try to read everything. Prioritize core tax workflows, entity differences, basis rules, professional responsibility, and business law terminology, then practice under time pressure.
Core CPA REG study lanes
Do not treat every topic the same way. CPA REG requires both legal-rule recall and calculation accuracy.
| Study lane | What to practice | Best drill type | Common failure pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual taxation | Filing facts, income, deductions, credits, tax calculation flow | Topic MCQs plus short calculation sets | Memorizing isolated rules without seeing the return flow |
| Property transactions | Amount realized, adjusted basis, realized gain/loss, recognized gain/loss, character | Calculation drills and simulations | Skipping basis or character before answering |
| Entity taxation | Corporations, partnerships, S corporations, entity-owner relationships | Mixed MCQs and basis/distribution simulations | Confusing entity-level and owner-level consequences |
| Business law | Contracts, agency, debtor-creditor, business organizations, legal vocabulary | Fast MCQ drills | Reading too slowly or relying on vague definitions |
| Ethics, professional responsibilities, and tax procedures | Duties, preparer conduct, authority, documentation, representation concepts | Scenario MCQs | Missing the role, client fact, or required conduct |
| Integrated simulations | Multi-document tax and regulation tasks | Timed simulations | Not identifying the tax year, entity, or required output first |
Start with a diagnostic
Before choosing exact topic order, take a diagnostic set.
| If you have… | Diagnostic format | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 40 to 60 mixed questions plus 1 simulation | Top 3 weak areas only |
| 14 days | 60 to 80 mixed questions plus 1 or 2 simulations | Weak areas by topic and question type |
| 30 days | 75 to 100 mixed questions or a short mock | Accuracy, timing, careless errors, calculation gaps |
| 60/90 days | Untimed or lightly timed baseline set | Starting strengths and first-pass content priorities |
After the diagnostic, classify every miss:
| Error type | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Rule gap | You did not know the rule | Add a short rule card and drill 10 to 15 similar questions |
| Entity confusion | You applied the wrong entity treatment | Rebuild the comparison table |
| Calculation setup | You knew the topic but set up the numbers incorrectly | Rework from blank without looking |
| Fact-pattern miss | You ignored dates, role, ownership, filing status, or entity type | Underline the controlling facts before answering |
| Timing error | You spent too long or rushed | Repeat under timed conditions |
| Trap answer | You picked a familiar but wrong answer | Write why the wrong answer is wrong |
Daily practice rhythm
Use the same rhythm most study days. CPA REG rewards repetition more than marathon reading.
Standard 2-hour study block
| Time | Activity | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Review yesterday’s missed-question log | Re-answer 3 to 5 prior misses |
| 25 minutes | Focused rule review | One topic summary or comparison chart |
| 35 minutes | Timed topic MCQs | 20 to 30 questions |
| 25 minutes | Calculation or simulation practice | 1 short simulation or 3 to 5 calculation problems |
| 20 minutes | Explanation review | Update error log and rule cards |
| 5 minutes | Plan next session | Choose tomorrow’s weak topic |
Short 60-minute study block
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | Review error log |
| 15 minutes | Read one focused topic summary |
| 25 minutes | Timed MCQs |
| 10 minutes | Review explanations |
| 5 minutes | Write one rule or calculation takeaway |
Weekend 3-hour block
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | Rework old misses |
| 45 minutes | Topic review |
| 45 minutes | Timed mixed MCQs |
| 45 minutes | Simulation practice |
| 25 minutes | Error-log cleanup |
| 20 minutes | Build comparison tables or formula templates |
Calculation templates to rehearse
Build a one-page REG calculation sheet. Do not only copy formulas; practice when each one applies.
| Template | What to know before calculating |
|---|---|
| Individual tax flow | Filing facts, income category, deductions, credits, and taxable income sequence |
| Basis | Starting basis, increases, decreases, liabilities, distributions, and loss limitations |
| Property disposition | Amount realized, adjusted basis, realized gain/loss, recognized gain/loss, and character |
| Entity distributions | Entity type, shareholder/partner basis, earnings and profits or capital account concepts as applicable |
| Book-to-tax adjustments | Permanent versus temporary differences and whether the item increases or decreases taxable income |
| Depreciation/amortization logic | Asset type, placed-in-service facts, convention or recovery concept from your current materials |
| Loss limitations | At-risk, passive, basis, or other limitation sequence where relevant |
For each calculation miss, rework the problem from a blank page within 24 hours. If you only reread the explanation, you may recognize the answer without being able to reproduce the method.
7-day CPA REG final review plan
Use this if your exam is one week away. The goal is not to learn every detail. The goal is to stabilize high-value workflows, reduce avoidable mistakes, and enter the exam with a practiced decision process.
| Day | Focus | Main work | End-of-day checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 7 | Diagnostic and triage | Mixed timed set plus 1 simulation | Identify your 3 weakest areas |
| Day 6 | Individual taxation | Filing facts, income, deductions, credits, and tax flow drills | Can you outline the individual return flow from memory? |
| Day 5 | Entity taxation | Corporations, partnerships, S corporations, basis and distributions | Can you explain entity versus owner consequences? |
| Day 4 | Property transactions | Basis, amount realized, recognized gain/loss, character | Can you solve disposition questions without checking notes? |
| Day 3 | Business law and professional responsibilities | Fast MCQ sets, vocabulary, scenario judgment | Can you define the legal terms you keep missing? |
| Day 2 | Timed mock or half mock | Sit under exam-like timing, then review deeply | Can you name the exact cause of each miss? |
| Day 1 | Light final review | Error log, formulas, comparison tables, logistics | Stop heavy studying early |
7-day rules
- Stop adding new topics after Day 3 unless the topic is a repeated miss.
- Do not take a full mock on the final day.
- Review explanations more than score reports.
- Rework calculation misses from scratch.
- Use business law and ethics drills to gain speed.
- Sleep and logistics matter more than one more late-night question set.
14-day focused plan
Use this if you have already seen most REG content but need a structured final push.
| Day | Topic | Practice assignment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic | Mixed timed set, 1 simulation, error log setup |
| 2 | Individual tax flow | Income, exclusions, deductions, credits, filing facts |
| 3 | Individual tax calculations | Timed MCQs plus calculation rework |
| 4 | Property basis | Basis, amount realized, recognized gain/loss |
| 5 | Property character and timing | Capital/ordinary treatment, holding period logic, depreciation-related review from your materials |
| 6 | Corporate taxation | Entity-level calculations, distributions, book-to-tax concepts |
| 7 | Partnership taxation | Formation, operations, basis, liabilities, distributions |
| 8 | S corporation taxation | Shareholder basis, flow-through items, distributions |
| 9 | Entity comparison day | Compare C corporation, partnership, and S corporation treatment |
| 10 | Business law | Contracts, agency, debtor-creditor, business organizations |
| 11 | Ethics, professional responsibilities, tax procedure | Scenario MCQs and terminology review |
| 12 | Full timed mock or exam-format practice | Complete mock, then begin review immediately |
| 13 | Mock review and weak-area repair | Rework misses, rebuild rule cards, drill weak topics |
| 14 | Final light review | Error log, formulas, comparison charts, exam-day plan |
14-day scoring improvement priorities
| If your diagnostic weakness is… | Spend extra time on… | Avoid… |
|---|---|---|
| Tax calculations | Basis, taxable income flow, property transactions | Passive rereading |
| Entity confusion | Side-by-side entity comparison tables | Studying each entity in isolation |
| Business law | Definitions, elements, and short fact patterns | Long outlines without questions |
| Simulations | Document navigation and required-output identification | Jumping into numbers before reading the prompt |
| Timing | Timed sets of 20 to 30 questions | Untimed comfort practice only |
30-day balanced plan
Use this if you want a realistic one-month schedule while working. The plan assumes regular weekday study and longer weekend blocks.
30-day overview
| Days | Focus | Main deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Diagnostic and individual tax foundation | Baseline score, error log, individual tax flow sheet |
| 4 to 7 | Individual taxation practice | Timed topic sets and one simulation |
| 8 to 11 | Property transactions | Basis and gain/loss calculation template |
| 12 to 16 | Entity taxation | Entity comparison chart and basis drills |
| 17 to 20 | Business law and professional responsibilities | Vocabulary deck and scenario practice |
| 21 to 23 | Mixed integration | Mixed MCQs and simulations across topics |
| 24 | Full timed mock | Score report plus detailed review plan |
| 25 to 27 | Weak-area rebuild | Targeted drills from mock misses |
| 28 | Second timed mock or heavy mixed set | Confirm readiness and timing |
| 29 | Final review | Error log, formulas, comparison tables |
| 30 | Light review and logistics | Stop heavy work; protect sleep |
30-day weekly schedule
| Week | Weekday plan | Weekend plan | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Individual tax review plus daily MCQs | Longer individual tax simulation and error review | You can explain tax flow without notes |
| Week 2 | Property and entity taxation | Basis/distribution drills and mixed simulations | You can identify entity type and owner-level impact quickly |
| Week 3 | Business law, ethics, tax procedure, integration | Timed mixed sets | You are no longer surprised by legal vocabulary |
| Week 4 | Mocks, weak-area repair, final review | Full timed practice and deep review | You know what to do during each question type |
Suggested daily mix during the 30-day plan
| Day type | MCQs | Simulations | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light weekday | 20 to 30 | Optional short sim | 20 minutes |
| Normal weekday | 30 to 50 | 1 short sim or calculation set | 30 minutes |
| Weekend | 60 to 90 mixed | 1 to 3 simulations | 60 minutes |
| Mock review day | Only targeted retakes | Rework missed sims | 2+ hours |
60/90-day full preparation path
Use this if you are starting early, have been away from tax for a while, or need a lower-stress schedule.
| Phase | 60-day timing | 90-day timing | Focus | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup and diagnostic | Days 1 to 3 | Days 1 to 5 | Baseline mixed set, calendar, materials | Error log and topic priority list |
| Individual taxation | Days 4 to 14 | Days 6 to 24 | Individual tax flow, income, deductions, credits, filing facts | Individual tax summary sheet |
| Property transactions | Days 15 to 23 | Days 25 to 38 | Basis, gain/loss, character, timing | Property calculation template |
| Entity taxation | Days 24 to 38 | Days 39 to 60 | Corporations, partnerships, S corporations, entity-owner rules | Entity comparison chart |
| Business law and professional responsibilities | Days 39 to 47 | Days 61 to 72 | Legal vocabulary, contracts, agency, debtor-creditor, ethics, tax procedure | Rule deck and scenario notes |
| Integration | Days 48 to 53 | Days 73 to 80 | Mixed MCQs and simulations | Weak-area repair list |
| Mock and final review | Days 54 to 60 | Days 81 to 90 | Timed mocks, error-log review, final rules | Exam-readiness decision |
Weekly rhythm for 60/90 days
| Day | Study task |
|---|---|
| Monday | Learn or review one subtopic |
| Tuesday | Timed topic MCQs |
| Wednesday | Simulation or calculation practice |
| Thursday | Second subtopic review |
| Friday | Mixed MCQs and error-log update |
| Saturday | Longer study block, cumulative review |
| Sunday | Light review or rest |
Layered review schedule
Do not wait until the end to review. Revisit old material on a fixed schedule.
| After first learning a topic | Review action |
|---|---|
| 1 day later | Re-answer 5 to 10 missed or marked questions |
| 3 to 4 days later | Do a short mixed set including that topic |
| 1 week later | Rework one calculation or simulation |
| 2 to 3 weeks later | Include it in a cumulative timed set |
| Final week | Review only your condensed notes and error log |
Missed-question review method
Your error log is more important than your raw number of completed questions.
The 5-step review loop
- Re-answer before reading fully. Decide what you would choose if you had one more chance.
- Identify the tested rule. Write the rule in one sentence.
- Find the controlling fact. Note the word, date, entity type, role, or amount that changed the answer.
- Classify the error. Rule gap, calculation, entity confusion, timing, or careless reading.
- Create a retest date. Rework the question or a similar one within 24 to 72 hours.
Error-log fields
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Date | When you missed it |
| Topic | Individual tax, entity tax, property, business law, ethics, or procedure |
| Subtopic | More specific rule or calculation |
| Error type | Rule gap, calculation setup, fact-pattern miss, timing, careless error |
| Correct rule | One-sentence rule in your own words |
| Retest date | When you will rework it |
| Status | Open, improving, or mastered |
How to review explanations
| Explanation type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Correct answer explanation | Convert it into a rule or process step |
| Wrong answer explanation | Identify why each distractor was tempting |
| Calculation explanation | Rework from blank and compare each line |
| Simulation explanation | Map each document or fact to the answer field |
| Business law explanation | Define the legal term and write a mini-example |
When to use timed mock exams
Timed mocks are valuable only if you review them. Do not burn a mock when you are too tired to analyze it.
| Plan | Best mock timing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Day 2 or Day 3 before the exam | Timing check and final triage |
| 14 days | Day 12 | Confirm readiness and expose final weak areas |
| 30 days | Around Day 24 and Day 28 | Build endurance and validate improvement |
| 60 days | Final 10 to 14 days | Transition from learning to performance |
| 90 days | Final 2 to 3 weeks | Confirm retention and timing under pressure |
Mock review rules
- Reserve at least as much time for review as for taking the mock.
- Review both missed and guessed questions.
- Do not treat the score as the only result; extract topics to repair.
- Rework missed simulations, especially if the issue was setup rather than knowledge.
- If a mock exposes a major gap, delay the next mock and drill that area first.
- Avoid a full mock in the final 24 hours if it will reduce sleep or confidence.
Topic drills, free practice exams, and full mocks
Use each tool for a different purpose.
| Tool | Best use | When to use it | What not to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic drills | Build a rule or calculation skill | Throughout content review | Do not stay topic-only forever |
| Mixed sets | Improve switching between REG topics | After each major content block | Do not ignore explanations |
| Free practice exams | Baseline check or extra exposure | Early diagnostic or final sanity check | Do not rely on them as your only source |
| Task-based simulations | Practice integrated tax work | Weekly, then more often in final phase | Do not skip them because MCQs feel faster |
| Full mocks | Timing, endurance, readiness | After first pass and in final review | Do not take back-to-back mocks without review |
Final-week rules
In the final week, your job changes from learning to executing.
Stop adding new material
| Time remaining | New material rule |
|---|---|
| 7 days | Add only topics that directly fix repeated misses |
| 3 days | No broad new chapters; use summaries and error log |
| 24 hours | No heavy new content; light review only |
Final-week checklist
- Rework your highest-frequency missed questions.
- Review entity comparison charts.
- Rehearse basis and property transaction calculations.
- Review business law definitions that cause repeated misses.
- Practice at least one simulation if simulations are a weakness.
- Confirm exam logistics and required identification through official candidate instructions.
- Sleep on a normal schedule.
- Stop studying early the day before if your accuracy is dropping.
Exam-readiness checks
You are closer to ready when the following are true:
| Readiness signal | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| You can explain misses | You know whether each miss was rule, calculation, timing, or careless reading |
| Timed sets are stable | Your timing is controlled across mixed questions |
| Entity rules are separated | You do not blur corporate, partnership, and S corporation treatment |
| Basis calculations are repeatable | You can set them up from blank without copying an example |
| Business law vocabulary is fast | You recognize terms without rereading long explanations |
| Simulations feel manageable | You read the prompt, identify required output, and use documents methodically |
| Final notes are short | You rely on condensed sheets, not full textbooks |
If you are not meeting these checks, do not panic-study everything. Pick the three weakest areas that appear most often in your missed-question log and repair those first.
Practical next step
Choose your time path, take a mixed diagnostic set, and build an error log today. Then schedule your next seven study sessions before doing more practice. For CPA REG, consistent review of missed tax and regulation questions is more valuable than simply increasing your question count.