The Data CPAs Should Know About Right Now
The Journal of Accountancy released survey data last month that every tax professional should have on their radar heading into the final stretch of tax season:
Taxpayer trust in AI-prepared tax returns dropped 6 percentage points in a single year.
- 2025: 43% of taxpayers would consider using AI to file
- 2026: 37% of taxpayers would consider using AI to file
This decline is consistent across every age group: Millennials (54%→50%), Gen Z (49%→46%), Gen X (43%→40%), Boomers (25%→24%).
AICPA's Tom Hood put it plainly in the report: *"Would you want your taxes done by AI, by a CPA, or by a CPA with AI? The answer is obvious — you want the CPA as trusted adviser using the latest technology."*
That's not a vendor quote. That's the professional association summarizing what taxpayers are actually telling pollsters.
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What This Means in Practice
If you're a solo practitioner or run a small CPA firm, you're probably experiencing the downstream effect of this already: more inbound inquiries, more "I tried TurboTax and need help," more clients who self-qualified as DIY filers but are now looking for a professional.
The demand surge is real. The capacity problem is also real.
Firms that haven't built operational leverage into their workflow are hitting a ceiling right now — in mid-March, with 29 days until April 15. The math doesn't work: you can't take on 20% more clients by working 20% longer hours when your team is already at capacity.
The firms that are handling the surge are the ones who automated the parts of the workflow that don't require judgment:
- Document collection and chasing — clients get automated reminders until every document is received. No CPA time spent on "did you send the W-2 yet?"
- Status inquiry responses — 80% of "where is my return?" emails have the same answer: "we're waiting on X." AI handles this automatically.
- Return status tracking — instead of checking where each return is manually, the system flags any return that's been idle more than 48 hours.
- New client intake — the questionnaire, engagement letter, and onboarding checklist go out automatically the moment a new client is added.
In a well-automated firm, taking on 15 additional clients this tax season requires roughly 10–12 hours of setup work upfront, not 10–12 hours of ongoing coordination overhead per client.
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The 2026 IRS Dirty Dozen: Why This Season Has Higher Stakes
The IRS Dirty Dozen list for 2026 added a new capital gains scheme — a surge in fabricated Form 2439 filings. Tax professionals are the frontline defense against these schemes, which means the due diligence layer this season is heavier than last year.
Clients who went the AI route and now realize they may have missed something are especially motivated to get human review. This is not a reason to slow down — it's a reason to have a fast, reliable intake process that lets you assess new clients quickly without consuming partner time on the screening.
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The Crypto Complexity Factor
New IRS 1099-DA reporting requirements for digital asset brokers are adding complexity to any client with crypto activity. These aren't resolved cases — the IRS is still issuing guidance on how brokers report. Tax professionals with crypto clients are managing new documentation requirements in real time.
If you're already stretched on capacity, crypto returns this season take longer than last year. Factor that into your acceptance decisions.
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The Capacity Math
A 4-person CPA firm currently processing 400 returns per season, with each return requiring 4 hours of staff time:
Without AI-assisted workflows: - Staff capacity: ~1,600 hours available per season - Returns processable: ~400 (at current pace) - To take on 20% more returns: need 320 additional hours = not possible without overtime or temp staff
With AI-assisted document collection, status management, and intake: - Staff capacity reclaimed: 1.5–2 hours per return (document chasing + status updates eliminated) - Reclaimed capacity: 600–800 hours per season - Additional returns processable: 150–200, same staff, same hours - Revenue impact: At $350/return average, that's $52,500–$70,000 in incremental revenue
The firms on the right side of the demand surge right now are the ones who built this operational foundation before season started. The ones scrambling are the ones who planned to "evaluate AI tools after April 15."
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One Action Worth Taking Before March 25
If you're currently blocked from taking on new clients because your team is at capacity, the fastest lever is document collection automation — specifically, eliminating the time your team spends chasing incomplete client packages.
Most firms can implement a document collection workflow in under a week. The ROI on this single workflow — measured in hours recovered per return during the busiest 6 weeks of the year — is typically the highest of any AI tool in the stack.
It doesn't require replacing your practice management software. It layers on top of what you already use.
See how SaSame's document automation works for CPA firms → — 15-minute walkthrough built for tax season, your workflow, your return volume.
No pitch deck. No long implementation. Just the one change that moves the capacity needle now.
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*Diego García | CMO, SaSame*
*Source: Journal of Accountancy, "AI loses ground to pros as taxpayers rethink who should do their taxes," February 23, 2026. IRS Dirty Dozen 2026 (March 6, 2026). IRS 1099-DA guidance (March 5, 2026).*