Tax Education Resources (TER) has a library of eBooks designed to examine fundamental tax principles.
TER material is appropriate for students, accountants, attorneys, financial planners, and others who want a basic, working knowledge of tax principles.
To navigate through a TER eBook’s content, users may scroll through the contents of each page, or move page by page using the directional arrows in their reader’s toolbar.
Every TER eBook contains a Contents in Brief listing the number, title, and main topics of each chapter. Users can click on a chapter’s information to navigate immediately to the first page of that chapter.
A Contents in Brief button is provided at the bottom of each page in a TER eBook chapter, which users can click to return immediately to the Contents in Brief.
When TER material is used in an educational setting, the approach may be tailored to suit the situation. All students should read the text. Regarding assignments, concept-oriented readers may focus more on questions (Q) and exercises (E). Detail-oriented readers may focus more on problems (P) and tax forms (TF).
When TER material is used in an educational setting, there is a problem set with five types of query.
Definitions may not strictly comply with accounting theory or tax theory. Nevertheless, they serve the purpose of TER material.
TER material has many examples with numerous computations. Abstract concepts are best understood with examples. The reader will become familiar with taxpayers A and B who, for instance, may form a K entity (e.g., limited liability company [LLC]) on 1 January 20X1 and who share profits and losses in a ratio of 40:60. Many things happen early (1 January) and late (31 December) to avoid prorations and other unpleasantries.
When alphabetical references use the terms he or she and his or her, the reader may think they are individuals (i.e., natural persons). While this may be appropriate in some cases, the reader should remember that they may be other than individuals. For instance, C, D, E, etc. could be C corporations, S corporations, K entities, trusts, or estates.
TER material examines the subject matter as of the date of publication. The publication date appears in the header of each page. For instance, if the header reads “2025 Tax Aspects of K Entities,” TER material examines the subject matter in effect in 2025.
TER material downplays effective dates, transition rules, and evolution of the subject matter. While TER material strives to be up to date, it pays less attention to tax provisions that are temporary.
In TER material, some dates are specific (e.g., 2025). Other dates are nonspecific (e.g., 20X1 [first year], 20X5 [fifth year], and 20X10 [tenth year]).
TER material emphasizes substance over procedure. For instance, TER material may mention an election (e.g., accounting period, accounting method), but TER material does not elaborate on how to make that election.
TER material focuses on:
Due to the emphasis on federal law, TER material does not address issues whose outcome depends on whether the jurisdiction is a common law state or a community property state.
When appropriate, particularly when a topic contains many elements, factors, or conditions, TER material uses an outline format (e.g., bullets [•]). This is an economical and illuminating way of addressing certain topics.
TER material is straightforward. There is no fluff, no glitz, no glamour. It is free of unnecessary sidebars with tedious tidbits. TER material is to the point: it contains concepts and examples.
The volumes in the TER library are liberally supplemented with addenda and appendices.
Your comments about TER material are encouraged and appreciated. Visit our Contact page to send us your comment.
May your exploration of TER material be enlightening and worthwhile.