AI integration in the tax profession

The tax profession is undergoing a digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence, shifting the focus from routine compliance to high-value advisory services.

In Japan, the company AIRAX has introduced a specialized tax agent AI designed to automate complex workflows such as document organization, bank reconciliation, and the generation of financial statements. In practical tests, the AI reduced tasks that previously required 25 to 30 business days to approximately 20 minutes. The service is intended to integrate with existing software to assist professionals rather than replace them.

On a broader scale, firms like EY are implementing programs to evolve tax professionals into ‘process designers’ who focus on business strategy and client consulting. By utilizing AI for data collection and drafting, tasks such as client group structure analysis have seen significant efficiency gains, reducing completion times from over five hours to roughly one hour. Experts suggest that to remain competitive, professionals must prioritize skills that AI cannot replicate, including professional judgment, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving.