One of the most useful, low-risk ways to use AI at tax time is getting organized. These prompts work with any AI tool. Describe your documents by name and type rather than uploading them, and leave out identifying numbers.
Build Your Document Checklist
"Here is a list of the tax documents I've received so far this year: [list them by type, such as W-2 from my employer, 1099-INT from my bank]. Make a checklist grouped by income, deductions, and payments, and tell me what's commonly missing for someone in my situation: [describe briefly]."
Compare This Year to Last Year
"Last year I received these documents: [list]. This year I've received these: [list]. Which ones am I still waiting on, and is anything new that I should ask my CPA about?"
Sort Your Expenses
"Here are my business expenses for the year, with dates, payees, and amounts only: [paste]. Group them into common categories, flag anything that looks personal, and total each category."
Prepare for Your CPA Meeting
"I'm meeting with my CPA about my taxes. Based on this situation, [describe], what questions should I ask, and what documents should I bring?"
A Few Ground Rules
- Remove Social Security numbers and account numbers before pasting anything.
- Treat the AI's categories as a first draft, not a final answer.
- Upload the actual documents to your CPA's secure portal, never by email.
General information only, not tax advice for your specific situation.
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