2026 Summer Tax School to Cover Key Farm Tax Updates

By Blake Jackson

University of Missouri Extension has opened registration for its 2026 Summer Tax School, scheduled for July 1 in Columbia. The one-day educational program is tailored for tax professionals who assist farmers, ranchers, and rural business owners with increasingly complex tax matters.

Organized by MU Extension agricultural business specialist Mary Sobba, the program is designed to help tax preparers stay informed on changing agricultural tax laws, IRS guidance, and financial planning strategies affecting rural clients.

According to Sobba, this year’s event will deliver practical insights and up-to-date information for professionals working in agriculture-focused tax preparation.

“Tax professionals serving agricultural and rural clients face a complex landscape, and staying current is essential,” Sobba said. “The Summer Tax School’s mission is to make sure those professionals have the tools and knowledge they need to serve clients well.”

The 2026 event will feature presentations from nationally recognized experts in agricultural law, taxation, and financial planning. Speakers include Roger McEowen of Washburn University School of Law, CPA and former IRS official Catherine Murphy, and Andrew Zumwalt, chair of MU’s Personal Financial Planning program.

Attendees will participate in sessions covering a wide range of current tax and legal topics. Discussions will include federal tax updates, recent court decisions, IRS administrative guidance, retirement planning concerns for farmers, succession and estate planning strategies, and tax-saving opportunities tied to Rural Opportunity Zones.

Other presentations will address public benefit corporations, residual fertilizer supply deductions, and the latest IRS fraud-reporting tools and system updates.

Additional sessions will explore innovative financial concepts such as infinite banking and Trump Accounts, while also reviewing some of the most commonly overlooked legal and tax concerns affecting agricultural producers.

Participants can earn eight hours of continuing education credit through the IRS and Missouri Bar CLE program. Discounted registration rates are available through June 18, and organizers encourage early sign-up due to limited seating availability.

For registration, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/events/mu-extension-summer-tax-school-2026.

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