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Agentic AI in Tax Operations

Artificial intelligence is advancing at an extraordinary pace.

For the first time, we are seeing technologies capable of

transforming how complex operational work is performed across financial institutions.

In tax operations, the opportunity is particularly significant.

Highly skilled professionals across financial institutions still spend large portions of their time reviewing documentation, validating forms, identifying inconsistencies, and following up on missing information.

These tasks are critical for compliance, but they are also repetitive and time-consuming.

Agentic AI creates the opportunity to rethink how these processes operate.

By reasoning through workflows, validating data and identifying issues earlier in the process, intelligent systems can significantly reduce manual remediation work while improving accuracy and consistency.

The real opportunity is not replacing people, but allowing professionals to focus where human judgement adds the most value, oversight, risk management and strategic decision-making.

For financial institutions facing growing regulatory complexity and operational costs, the potential return on investment is significant.

Below are a short series of reflections on how AI may reshape tax operations, the opportunities for real value creation, the risks institutions must manage, the lessons we are learning as we build these technologies, and the potential impact on the talented professionals working across our industry.

The Shift in Tax Operations

What an incredible privilege to be alive at this time! The latest changes in Computer Science make it possible for us to truly revolutionise the future of work and take drudgery out of the work that humans do. Equally, we are reminded of the critical importance of ensuring only enterprise‑grade, production‑ready solutions get deployed so that confidential data and systems remain absolutely safe.

One of the most interesting aspects of AI adoption in tax operations is how it may reshape the talent profile of the industry.

As AI begins to automate operational activities, the role of the tax professional will evolve.

We are likely to see increased emphasis on data analysis, technology fluency, critical thinking and cross‑functional collaboration.

Rather than processing documentation, tax teams will increasingly oversee automated systems, interpret insights, and manage complex regulatory environments.

AI has the potential to make tax operations a far more intellectually engaging and strategically important function.

Safe AI Deployment

The journey from an early AI prototype to a production-ready enterprise system is significant, and cannot be rushed.

In financial institutions, where systems interact with sensitive data and regulatory processes, safety and reliability are non-negotiable.

AI solutions must be rigorously tested, governed and continuously monitored to ensure they perform consistently and align with regulatory expectations.

This requires strong collaboration between technology providers and financial institutions.
Successful deployment is not just about the capability of the technology, but about the strength of the partnership behind it.

When approached correctly, AI can be introduced safely, responsibly and at scale, unlocking meaningful operational value while maintaining trust.

Every Leader's Urgent Responsibility Today

As AI begins to automate some of these operational activities, the role of the tax professional will likely evolve.

Historically, many tax operations teams have relied heavily on manual validation and remediation processes. While essential, these workflows often leave highly capable professionals spending much of their time on repetitive tasks.

To thrive in this shift, we must empower every team member to understand and embrace the new reality. The pace at which each of us must execute must accelerate 100x. This means everything that can be automated with tools must be, as a matter of urgency, and each of us has to lean into our uniquely human ROI generators.

We may begin to see greater emphasis on:
• Data analysis
• Technology fluency
• Critical thinking
• Cross-functional collaboration

Rather than simply processing documentation, tax teams will increasingly oversee automated systems, interpret insights and manage complex regulatory environments.

In that sense, AI may actually make tax operations a far more attractive and intellectually engaging field for the next generation of professionals.

Preserving Institutional Knowledge

One of the less discussed challenges in tax operations is the preservation of institutional knowledge.

Many financial institutions rely heavily on experienced tax professionals who hold years of operational expertise, knowledge that is often difficult to document or replicate.

When experienced team members move on, a significant amount of this knowledge can be lost.

AI systems have the potential to help capture patterns, decision frameworks and operational insights over time.

Over time, they can begin to serve as a form of organisational memory, making institutions more resilient and less dependent on fragmented or individual knowledge.

When implemented responsibly, this could allow institutions to preserve expertise while maintaining greater consistency across teams and jurisdictions. In a regulatory environment that continues to grow more complex, that kind of institutional memory may become a critical source of resilience for financial institutions.

Moving from Remediation to Intelligence

AI discussions often focus heavily on efficiency gains.

But in tax operations, the impact may be broader than simply doing things faster.

As regulatory frameworks such as FATCA, CRS and emerging developments like CRS 2.0 continue to expand, the operational demands placed on financial institutions are increasing significantly.

Tax operations teams are being asked to manage growing volumes of documentation, validation requirements and remediation workflows.

AI offers an opportunity to rethink how these processes operate.

By introducing intelligent validation, real-time data checks and earlier detection of issues, institutions may be able to move from reactive remediation toward more proactive compliance models.

The long-term impact could be significant, not only improving efficiency, but reshaping how tax operations functions support the broader organisation.

Leadership

The pace of technological change is accelerating, and with it comes a new responsibility for leadership.

Every organisation must consider how it supports its teams in adapting to this shift.

This means creating an environment where new technologies are understood, embraced and applied thoughtfully.

It also means recognising where automation can deliver value, and where human expertise remains essential.

The real opportunity lies in enabling people to focus on areas where human judgement, creativity and strategic thinking make the greatest impact.

Organisations that take a proactive approach will not only improve operational performance, but will also empower their teams to operate at a higher level.

In this new era, leadership is not just about adopting technology, it is about guiding people through change.