AI loses ground to pros as taxpayers rethink who should do their taxes

Fewer taxpayers say they would consider trusting artificial intelligence (AI) over hiring a tax professional to file their taxes this year compared with 2025, and the percentage slipped across all generations, according to the second annual U.S. Tax Filing Report by an invoice automation company.

In 2026, 37% of respondents said they would consider trusting AI over hiring a tax professional, according to the survey conducted for Invoice Home. In 2025, the percentage of taxpayers who trusted AI for tax filing was 43%, the survey said.

While acceptance of AI varies by generation, the level of comfort dropped in all groups in one year with 40% of Gen X saying yes (43% in 2025), 50% of Millennials (54%), 46% of Gen Z (49%), 24% of Baby Boomers (25%), and 15% of the Silent Generation (18%).

“Would you want your taxes done by AI, by a CPA, or by a CPA with AI?” said Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Growth & Engagement at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. “The answer is obvious — you want the CPA as trusted adviser using the latest technology.”

The survey covers taxpayers’ perception of filing returns this year, including their lack of confidence in doing the task and the financial strain. The percentage of respondents who said they are confident in themselves to file their taxes correctly remained stable at 42% in 2026, compared with 41% last year.

“We continue to see a lack of confidence for nearly half of respondents when filing their taxes each year,” Petr Marek, co-founder and CEO of Invoice Home, said in the news release. “Most Americans only engage with their taxes once a year, and it’s a high-stress situation surrounded by fear of making a costly mistake. Building confidence starts with preparing throughout the year and leaning on tools and experts to help with the overall process.” 

Younger generations are especially concerned about paying taxes, the survey said, with 24% of Gen Z and 21% of Millennial respondents saying they will delay filing taxes this year for fear they will owe money.

While 28% of respondents said they don’t plan on doing anything to manage their finances differently in 2026 beyond day-to-day lifestyle adjustments, others are seeking outside support. This includes investing in digital tools (29%), seeking support from AI (24%), relying on ChatGPT for financial advice (24%), and hiring a financial planner/adviser for the first time (22%).

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Martha Waggoner at Martha.Waggoner@aicpa-cima.com.