BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The April 15 deadline to file taxes or request an extension is tonight at 11:59 p.m., and artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a bigger role in how people file.

Local tax experts said AI is changing everything from the software taxpayers use to how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) checks their work.

Alex Tran, a tax principal at Seidel Schroeder in Bryan, said AI is helping accountants catch mistakes humans miss, shifting their focus from data entry to strategy.

AI is transforming tax filing and IRS checks, but experts warn against uploading personal data to general AI tools as the April 15 deadline approaches.

Tran also said the IRS is using algorithms to cross-check returns against income it already has on file, including bank interest, side gig earnings and payment app transactions.

“With the help of AI, we’re able to remove the mistakes that we make, and it creates a good product,” Tran said. “What it doesn’t replace is the relational side of it, the planning side of it.”

AI speeds up search for tax code answers

James Meersman, a clinical assistant professor of accounting at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School, said there are AI systems targeted specifically for tax law. This allows experts to ask questions and get answers in minutes instead of manually searching the tax code.

“Instead of memorizing all the code or using the keyword search, you can just kind of have a conversation with the AI and kind of see what conclusion you can draw based on how it views the Internal Revenue Code,” Meersman said.

What used to take Meersman an hour now takes about two to three minutes. He said AI is already reshaping the accounting profession itself.

There are AI systems targeted specifically for tax law, so experts don't have to manually... — There are AI systems targeted specifically for tax law, so experts don’t have to manually search the tax code.(kbtx)

“The accounting firms where I help my students get jobs at, they’re expecting these students to come into the office already with some knowledge of what prompting is and using AI to do their job,” Meersman said.

Don’t upload personal information to general AI tools

Meersman warned taxpayers not to upload personal information to general AI tools.

“I’d be hesitant to use general AI for tax compliance just because, one, it might not be right,” Meersman said. “Two, a lot of times people are uploading personal information on these websites, and you don’t know where that information is going, especially tax information. It’s ripe for committing fraud if it gets into the wrong hands.”

Local tax experts recommend that those trying to meet the April 15, 11:59 p.m. deadline use a... — Local tax experts recommend that those trying to meet the April 15, 11:59 p.m. deadline use a paid service, such as TurboTax, to ensure compliance.(kbtx)

Meersman added that taxpayers who still need to file can get it done in about 20 minutes with a paid service like TurboTax if all they have is a W-2.

Taxpayers with more complex situations can still file for an extension before midnight without penalty.

For those who have no idea where to start, Meersman recommends using AI to walk through the process, as long as they keep their personal information off of it.

“You can use AI and just say, ‘walk me through the process,’” Meersman said. “You don’t have to upload any documentation, just ask, ‘hey, it’s the last day, I have 12 hours, what do I do?’ It’s going to walk you through either of those processes.”

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