Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a game changer in the accounting and finance profession — especially for tax practitioners.
From summarizing tax laws to conducting research, generating communications to writing workflow manuals, the use of AI to complete tedious tasks is leaving practitioners more time to focus on more client advisory duties. Research backs up the shift: Survey respondents in the Thomson Reuters 2025 Future of Professionals Report estimated that AI would save them an average of five hours per week.
Most tax practitioners no longer need convincing that AI is beneficial. The challenge is moving them beyond curiosity and experimentation and into practical implementation. With that in mind, this year’s National Tax Conference will have an AI-focused preconference workshop, “From AI Hype to Practical Adoption: Tools That Can Transform Tax Practice,” on Sunday, Nov. 8. The two-day conference kicks off on Nov. 9.
Successful AI adoption starts with identifying a business challenge, rather than layering more tools on top of a process that might be broken. The goal might be reducing administrative work, improving research efficiency, enhancing client service, expanding advisory offerings, or increasing staff productivity. A clear objective is needed to help guide technology decisions.
These three tips can help you determine which technologies to explore and how to introduce them responsibly.
Tip one: Identify specific use cases
The firms having the most success at adopting AI aren’t using the most variations — they’re being intentional with what they choose. They aren’t asking, “Which AI tool should we buy?” They’re asking, “Which business problems are we trying to solve?”
That mindset will guide your firm as you choose which tools to implement. Before evaluating vendors, ask:
Which specific tax processes take the most time?
Where are our biggest bottlenecks?
Which tasks are repetitive and rules-based?
How will we measure success?
What return on investment do we expect?
It’s important to identify specific use cases where AI could likely improve efficiency and strengthen delivery. After assessing workflows and where AI could fit, evaluate vendors, run pilot tests, train staff, establish governance if it doesn’t already exist, and scale usage gradually.
Tip two: Determine criteria to look for while shopping
Current industry adoption is focused on improving efficiency. The best AI solutions should help with tax workflows, such as:
Tax research
Document analysis
Client correspondence
Compliance workflows,
Advisory and planning support
What tools firms choose will be based on which problems they’re trying to solve. But there are other criteria firm leaders need to look for as they shop the AI marketplace.
Practitioners need to be able to see how outputs are generated and defend conclusions. Tools that cite authoritative sources, show supporting logic, document assumptions, and allow validation of results should be at the top of the list.
And because tax firms handle highly sensitive client information, firms need to emphasize due diligence around data security, privacy, and vendor controls before implementation.
New technology should also fit into existing workflows and tax software. Rather than searching for a single solution that does everything, firms may find greater success by focusing on specific workflows and how they those can be improved with new tools.
Tip three: Train staff accordingly
As AI adoption continues, practitioners will need a new set of skills. Recent guidance from the IRS stresses the real-world consequences of improper AI use. Practitioners must understand the tools they’re using.
Tax practitioners will need to understand:
How AI tools work
AI limitations and risk
Prompting and validation techniques
Data governance and privacy
Technology strategy and implementation
A solid, basic understanding will minimize errors. Common AI errors include biases in analysis, hallucinated tax authorities, and inaccurate conclusions. AI outputs are not 100% reliable and for that, professional judgment remains a must-have. Quality control is more important than ever, and practitioners must have a keen eye as they review and validate AI-generated work.
Understanding the potential risks is only part of the equation. To help tax practitioners use AI confidently and responsibly, the AICPA & CIMA AI Tax Resource Center offers resources, guides, tools, and insights to support every stage of the journey.
The business case for AI
Technology has shifted from technical issue to business issue. AI adoption is becoming part of firm strategy, workforce development, and competitive positioning. Leaders are contemplating where AI can address and smooth process bottlenecks and support greater consistency and quality across their work.
As your firm contemplates future AI tech, note that the right tools likely don’t have the most features. The right tool is the one that solves a clearly defined problem, protects client data, integrates into existing workflows, and enables your staff to spend more time on advisory work. Think progress and not perfection. Start small, learn quickly, and build from there.
And you can learn directly from the practitioners who have experience leading technology transformation within the profession. At the complimentary preconference workshop, “From AI Hype to Practical Adoption: Tools That Can Transform Tax Practice,” discover how AI tools continue to reshape tax work, learn where firms are seeing the most value, and gain more tips on building an efficient, future-ready tax practice.
Practical guidance and advice from experts at the AICPA® National Tax Conference, Nov. 9-10, will inspire innovations as well as help you prepare for adjustments to the IRS, understand potential tax law changes, and ultimately serve your clients better. The two-day conference will be hosted at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. with in-person and virtual attendance options. Register today.