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What happens when AI starts doing the audit work itself? Blake and David dig into KPMG’s prediction that routine audit testing could soon happen with almost no human auditors directly involved. They also cover the IRS’s unfinished AI projects, the end of Direct File, new tax-on-tips rules, and why firms investing more in marketing are growing faster. Press play to hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and clients. Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayWurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthy Chapters(00:00) - Audits Without Humans (00:22) - Tax Day Show Kickoff (02:30) - When Tax Day Hit Post Office (04:34) - E Filing Ends The Party (05:23) - This Week Top Stories (05:58) - Warehouse Fire Accounting Impact (08:52) - Compliance Time Cost (11:04) - No Tax On Tips Rules (13:44) - IRS AI Projects Stall (14:43) - Direct File Cost Debate (17:30) - Xero Os Buzzword Critique (20:32) - Can Ai Replace QuickBooks (21:23) - Reddit Claude Accounting System (22:45) - Firms Lose Stack Control (23:27) - AI Makes More Cleanup (23:58) - Tidwell Spreadsheet Accounting (25:13) - Tax Preparer Fraud Cases (27:17) - Big Four Audit Automation (30:58) - EY Office Mandate and Careers (34:01) - Firm Growth Marketing and AI (36:19) - Audit Lawsuits and Penalties (40:19) - Juno AI Tax Prep Funding (42:27) - Workers Skipping AI Review (44:36) - Agentic Frameworks and Omni (47:19) - Wrap Up and Free CPE   Show Notes How Tax Day Turned Into Party Night at the Post Office https://www.history.com/articles/tax-day-parties Americans to Spend 11.6 Billion Hours Completing Federal Compliance Forms https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/03/16/americans-to-spend-11-6-billion-hours-completing-federal-compliance-forms/179866/ IRS Publishes List of Jobs That Qualify for 'No Tax on Tips' Provision https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/13/irs-tax-on-tips-big-beautiful-bill.html IRS AI Projects Fall by the Wayside Due to Staff Cuts https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-ai-projects-fall-by-the-wayside-due-to-staff-cuts IRS Inflated Direct File Costs by $45 Million in 2025 https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/03/25/irs-inflated-direct-file-costs-by-45-million-in-2025/180237/ Xero OS: Your Operating System for the Future of Autonomous Finance https://blog.xero.com/news-events/xero-os-ai-native-operating-system/ Tidwell — MCP Accounting Server (Reddit reference) https://www.tidwell.com Warehouse Worker Charged in $500M Arson Attack at Kimberly-Clark Distribution Center https://abc7.com/post/employee-arrested-arson-kimberly-clark-distribition-center-destroyed-massive-fire-ontario/18851549/ New Jersey Tax Preparer Sentenced in Largest COVID-19 Tax Relief Fraud Case https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/new-jersey-man-sentenced-prison-largest-covid-19-tax-relief-fraud-scheme-country Pennsylvania Tax Preparer Jessica Cordero Faces Federal Charges in New Fraud Scheme https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/allentown-woman-and-two-others-charged-federal-court-wire-fraud-and-aggravated-identity In This Critical Part of Audits, the Accountant's Role Is Shrinking Fast https://www.wsj.com/finance/accounting/auditors-ai-kpmg-pwc-ey-7f07d3a5 KPMG Plans to Cut Up to 440 Audit Jobs in UK https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-27/kpmg-set-to-shed-hundreds-of-auditors-as-attrition-remains-low EY Requiring U.S. Tax Staff to Work In-Person 12 Days a Month https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-requiring-us-tax-staff-to-work-in-person-12-days-a-month AI Is Changing How EY Recruits, Develops and Promotes Employees https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-ai-talent-career-paths-accounting-2026 High-Growth Accounting Firms Spend Twice as Much on Marketing https://hingemarketing.com/blog/story/marketing-financial-services-the-2025-forecast Evergrande Liquidators and PwC Head to Court https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/evergrande-liquidators-and-pwc-head-to-court Ontario Securities Commission Accuses KPMG of Botching Audits for Bridging Finance https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ontario-securities-commission-accuses-kpmg-of-botching-audits-for-bridging-finance Juno Raises $12M Seed to Scale AI Tax Preparation Platform https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/04/13/juno-raises-12m-seed-to-scale-ai-tax-preparation-platform-that-automates-90-of-busy-work/181502/ AI Slop Survey: A Third of Workers Rarely Check AI Output Before Using It https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/04/08/ai-slop-survey-a-third-of-workers-rarely-check-ai-output-before-using-it/181191/ Agentic AI Frameworks and Artifact's Omni Platform Launch https://www.artifact.build Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast:

What happens when AI starts doing more than answering questions? Blake and David dig into Perplexity’s move into tax prep and bookkeeping, the IRS testing Palantir to help select audit targets, and why many firms still aren’t seeing real ROI from AI. They also unpack the surprising success of Trump accounts and what all of this could mean for accountants, firm workflows, and the future of the profession. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casREFRAME 2026 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2026Wurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthy Chapters(00:00) - TAP 482 (02:37) - Trump Accounts Boom (07:22) - CPE With Earmark (08:38) - Perplexity Targets Taxes (12:32) - AI Agents And Moats (23:43) - Claude Cowork Bookkeeping (30:25) - Digits Outcome Pricing (30:58) - Digits Pay For Performance (31:25) - Zero Touch Guarantee (31:56) - Pricing Power Debate (32:20) - Switching GL Friction (33:11) - Reframe Conference Sponsor (34:26) - AI Security Banter (35:14) - IRS Palantir Snap Audits (39:09) - AI ROI Wrong Math (44:27) - Find The Bottleneck (46:14) - Automate Client Intake (48:02) - Claude PBC Workflow (54:40) - Weekly Close Discipline (56:13) - DHS Tax Extension Story (57:48) - Mentoring And Webinars (59:15) - Future Firm Tech Stack (01:01:45) - Wrap Up And CPE   Show Notes 4 Million Children Have Been Signed Up for Trump Accounts with 1 Million Claiming the $1,000 Pilot Program Contribution https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/4-million-children-have-been-signed-up-for-trump-accounts-with-1-million-claiming-the-1000-pilot-program-contribution Introducing Computer for Taxes https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-computer-for-taxes The IRS Wants Smarter Audits. Palantir Could Help Decide Who Gets Flagged https://dnyuz.com/2026/03/30/the-irs-wants-smarter-audits-palantir-could-help-decide-who-gets-flagged/ Digits Announces Outcome-Based Pricing https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/digits-announces-outcome-based-pricing Your AI Business Case Is Built on the Wrong Math https://www.cfo.com/news/your-ai-business-case-is-built-on-the-wrong-math-throughput-accounting-productivity/816014/ Treasury and IRS Announce Tax Filing Relief to DHS Personnel https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0431 Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds REFRAME 2026 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2026 Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Can AI really prepare a tax return without a human touching the keyboard? Blake and David dig into a wave of new accounting tools that promise exactly that, from AI tax prep and bookkeeping agents to month-end automation. They’re joined by Kenji Kuramoto of Basis to discuss what this means for firms, pricing, and jobs. Plus: the U.S. government’s worsening balance sheet, Tether’s long-awaited audit, and why token costs may become accounting’s next big metric. SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - TAP 481 (02:34) - US Insolvency Breakdown (06:04) - Household Budget Analogy (07:49) - GAO Disclaimer Explained (08:37) - AI Tax Prep Agents (11:45) - Kenji Joins the Show (15:07) - Kenji New Role at Basis (19:40) - Basis Agents for CAS (25:36) - AI Skills and Pricing Shift (28:04) - Token Billing and FinOps (33:55) - Tokens Not Timesheets (34:17) - Delve Compliance Fallout (36:18) - Xero Adds Claude AI (38:16) - Who Really Owns Data (41:06) - Ramp Accounting Agent (45:19) - Ramp Budgets Reality Check (48:27) - Canopy Bookkeeping Module (53:11) - Billcom Agents Soapbox (55:09) - Audit Tech Fundraising (56:37) - Tether Finally Gets Audited (59:52) - Costco Tariff Refund Lawsuit (01:02:16) - Wrap Up And CPE   Show Notes The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it. https://fortune.com/2026/03/23/us-government-insolvent-fiscal-crisis-fix/   TaxGPT AI agent aims to complete the whole tax return https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taxgpt-touts-ai-that-automatically-completes-returns-from-start-to-finish   As Tax Deadline Approaches, Consumers Are Going to AI Before Filing https://www.pymnts.com/taxes/2026/as-tax-deadline-approaches-consumers-are-going-to-ai-before-filing/   AI Efficiency Gains Push Accounting Firms to Reimagine Pricing https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/ai-efficiency-gains-push-accounting-firms-to-reimagine-pricing   Accounting Jobs Requiring AI Skills Jump 67% https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-jobs-requiring-ai-skills-jump-67   Xero and Anthropic Collaborate to Bring AI-Powered Financial Intelligence to Millions of Small Businesses https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260326956055/en/Xero-and-Anthropic-Collaborate-to-Bring-AI-Powered-Financial-Intelligence-to-Millions-of-Small-Businesses   Ramp Launches Accounting Agent to Automate Bookkeeping with Real-Time Close https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-launches-accounting-agent-to-automate-bookkeeping-with-real-time-close-302686214.html   Ramp Launches Ramp Budgets https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-launches-ramp-budgets-302667840.html   Canopy Unveils Canopy Bookkeeping to Eliminate Month-End Friction for Accounting and CAS Teams https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260211348515/canopy-unveils-canopy-bookkeeping-to-eliminate-month-end-friction-for-accounting-and-cas-teams   Canopy Expands Tax Workflow With AI-Powered Tax Preparation Through New Filed Integration https://www.getcanopy.com/blog/canopy-expands-tax-workflow-with-ai-powered-tax-preparation-through-new-filed-integration   Double AI Journal Entries https://doublehq.com/ai-journal-entries/   Tech News: Ramp, Canopy Both Announce AI-Powered Bookkeeping Solutions (includes Bill.com AI agents coverage) https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/tech-news-ramp-canopy-both-announce-ai-powered-bookkeeping-solutions   Exclusive: Founded By 2 Brothers In Their 20s, YC-Backed Denki Raises $4.1M To Automate Financial Audits https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/yc-backed-denki-raise-financial-audit-automation-ai/   Tether Taps Big Four Firm KPMG for First Financial Audit of $184 Billion Stablecoin Issuer https://www.theblock.co/post/395423/tether-taps-kpmg-for-first-financial-audit   Americans Are Demanding Refunds from the $180 Billion in Tariffs They Paid, Including Suing Companies Like Costco https://fortune.com/2026/03/13/americans-demanding-tariff-refunds-suing-costco-fedex/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details,

Can AI really handle accounting and tax work—or is it just creating new ways to fake compliance? Blake and David dig into allegations of fraudulent SOC 2 reports, how taxpayers are actually using AI for tax prep, and why tools like Claude are creeping into finance workflows. They also cover FAA staffing risks, threats to state accountancy boards, and what listeners should watch as AI reshapes trust in the profession. SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - TAP 480 (01:28) - Sponsor Digits Overview (02:54) - LaGuardia Crash Breakdown (05:36) - Shutdown Staffing Fallout (07:58) - Livestream and CPE Plug (08:49) - Delve SOC 2 Allegations (15:57) - How Fake Audits Happen (20:49) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing (22:00) - Is Anyone Using AI (24:02) - AI for Tax Prep Examples (35:14) - AI Tax Advice Limits (36:04) - Tech Creates More Cleanup (36:41) - OnPay Payroll Sponsor (37:53) - Games To Beat Busy Season (40:42) - Florida Board Threat Averted (44:02) - UNC MAcc Sponsor (45:20) - Guess The Finance App (46:47) - Claude Targets Finance Workflows (50:29) - Will AI Replace The GL (55:07) - Women Partners Progress (01:00:50) - Wrap Up And CPE   Show Notes Air Traffic Audio Appears to Show Tower Was Dealing With Incident Before Crash (New York Times via DNYUZ) https://dnyuz.com/2026/03/23/air-traffic-audio-appears-to-show-tower-was-dealing-with-incident-before-crash/   Delve — Fake Compliance as a Service — Part I (DeepDelver on Substack) https://deepdelver.substack.com/p/delve-fake-compliance-as-a-service   Delve Accused of Misleading Customers with 'Fake Compliance' (TechCrunch) https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/22/delve-accused-of-misleading-customers-with-fake-compliance/   What 81,000 People Want from AI (Anthropic) https://www.anthropic.com/research/what-people-want-from-ai   WSJ Readers Share How They Are Using AI for Tax Prep (Wall Street Journal via TaxProf Blog) https://taxprofblog.aals.org/2026/03/09/wsj-readers-share-how-they-are-using-ai-for-tax-prep/   10 Fun Games to Play at Work and Their Impact on Productivity (Small Business Trends) https://smallbiztrends.com/games-to-play-at-work/   FICPA Legislative Update: End of 2026 Session — HB 607 Did Not Advance (Florida Institute of CPAs) https://www.ficpa.org/news/1cee5313-ce07-47f2-841f-48a95344f6f5:legislative-update-end-of-session-still-pending   Claude for Financial Services (Anthropic) https://www.anthropic.com/financial-services   Glass Ceiling Shattered? Female Lead Engagement Partners in S&P 500 Audits (The CPA Journal) https://www.cpajournal.com/2026/03/13/glass-ceiling-shattered/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Will AI actually take accountants’ jobs—or just change what their work looks like? Blake and David unpack the gap between AI hype and reality, from a LinkedIn challenge that found zero accountants replaced by AI to how firms like PwC and EY are shifting strategy. They also explore probabilistic audit opinions, AI agents in accounting workflows, and what professionals can do now to stay ahead. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - TAP 479 (02:27) - Auditor Karaoke Protest (03:58) - Baby Where My Audit (07:14) - Reactions and Afroman (10:19) - Probabilistic Audit Opinions (14:57) - BDO Lawsuit and Liability (18:52) - Super Micro Fraud Signals (24:19) - Deterministic AI Checklists (30:16) - Checklist Driven AI Agents (31:28) - How LLMs Differ From Brains (33:00) - Puzzle Functions And Guardrails (36:06) - Prompting For Clarifying Questions (36:48) - UNC MAcc Sponsor Break (38:30) - PwC Goes AI First (41:46) - EY Bets On CPA Talent (43:27) - AI Exposure Index Reality Check (47:40) - Will Accounting Jobs Disappear (50:23) - Coan Paradox And Rising Standards (52:43) - AI As A Career Upskill (55:20) - Who Is Losing Work To AI (56:23) - Livestream Chat And Wrap Up   Show Notes Massachusetts Auditor DiZoglio Performs "Baby Where the Hell Is My Audit" Parody https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/16/metro/diana-dizoglio-auditor-legislature-audit-democrats/   Afroman Wins Defamation Lawsuit Filed by Ohio Police Officers https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afroman-wins-lawsuit-ohio-police-raid-music-videos/   Would You Take a Probabilistic Audit Opinion? https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/would-you-take-a-probabilistic-audit-opinion   BDO Faces Investor Lawsuit That Could Impact Other Firms https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/bdo-faces-investor-lawsuit-that-could-impact-other-firms   Super Micro Computer Co-Founder Charged With Smuggling Nvidia AI Chips to China https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/super-micro-computer-founder-charged-ai-chips-china   Puzzle Launches AI Close for Accountants  https://puzzle.io/blog/puzzle-accounting-ai   PwC CEO: You Cannot Opt Out of AI https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pwc-ceo-you-cannot-opt-out-of-ai   EY Doubles CPA Exam Bonus to $10K  https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-doubles-cpa-exam-bonus-to-10k   Anthropic AI Labor Market Impacts Report  https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts   Microsoft AI Chief Gives It 18 Months for All White-Collar Work to Be Automated https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/when-will-ai-kill-white-collar-office-jobs-18-months-microsoft-mustafa-suleyman/   Only 14% of UK Finance Leaders See Traditional Accounting Skills as Valuable for Next Generation https://www.theglobalrecruiter.com/only-14-per-cent-of-finance-leaders-see-traditional-accounting-skills-as-valuable-for-next-generation/   Accounting and Tax Staff Worry AI Threatens Jobs https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-and-tax-employees-feel-ai-threatens-job-prospects   AI's First Substitution: Freelancers (Ramp Economics Lab)  https://ramp.com/velocity/ai-labor-market-impact-freelancers   Record Number of Companies Are Ditching Old CEOs for Younger, Less Experienced Executives  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fired-record-number-companies-ditching-152914066.html Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast...

What do tariffs, war, AI agents, and a collapsed accounting startup have in common? This week, Blake and David connect the dots between rising economic pressure and rapid tech change. They break down the lopsided cost of drone warfare, small businesses getting crushed by tariffs, AI tools handling tax and bookkeeping tasks, and new details on Botkeeper’s collapse. You’ll hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and the future of the profession. SponsorsUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters(01:27) - Sponsor Break UNC (02:46) - War Costs and Drones (08:58) - GPT 5.4 for Accountants (11:13) - AI Agent Files City Tax (15:23) - Claude Skill for Tax Prep (17:11) - Sponsor Break OnPay (18:55) - Gemini Makes Theme Music (22:33) - Uber CEO AI Clone (24:22) - Botkeeper Collapse Follow Up (31:13) - QuickBooks Integration Doubts (31:53) - Cloud Accountant Staffing Spot (32:59) - KPMG Earnings Leak Theory (37:23) - Zapier AI Guardrails (39:43) - 401k Hardship Withdrawals Rise (43:02) - Tariff Refunds and AI Lawsuits (46:27) - Trump v Trump IRS Lawsuit (48:43) - IRS Union Contract Termination (50:01) - Direct File Act Returns (51:56) - Meta 16B Tax Fight (54:33) - Trump Accounts Auto Enrollment (56:13) - Accounting Degrees Loan Limits (57:39) - CPE App and Sign Off   Show Notes Iran's Drones Cost a Fraction of the U.S. Weapons Shooting Them Down  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/business/iran-drones-us-weapons-cost.html   Introducing GPT-5.4  https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-4/   Breaking Up with TurboTax: How I Used Claude to File My Taxes for Free  https://kachess.dev/taxes/ai/personal-finance/2026/02/27/breaking-up-with-turbotax.html   Show HN: Claude Skill to Do Your Taxes  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47277164   Enrico Palmerino Explains Botkeeper's Fall  https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/enrico-palmerino-explains-botkeepers-fall   Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Has an AI Clone  https://www.fastcompany.com/91500087/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-has-an-ai-clone   KPMG-Audited Companies Are Trading Strangely on Polymarket  https://eventwaves.substack.com/p/kpmg-audited-companies-are-trading   Zapier Updates: AI Guardrails & Governance Controls  https://zapier.com/blog/february-2026-product-updates/   Record Numbers of Workers Are Raiding Their 401(k) Savings  https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/401k-hardship-withdrawals-record-vanguard-2025   For Some Small Businesses, a Tariff Refund Isn't Worth the Pain of Pursuing It  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/small-businesses-tariff-refund-isnt-worth-pain-pursuing-it.html   Trump's IRS Lawsuit Offers Lessons on Privacy and Legal Process  https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/trumps-irs-lawsuit-offers-lessons-on-privacy-and-legal-process   Democrats Unveil Bill to Resurrect Direct File  https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/democrats-unveil-bill-to-resurrect-direct-file   I.R.S. Tactics Against Meta Open a New Front in the Corporate Tax Fight  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/irs-meta-tax-ireland.html   IRS Should Open Trump Accounts for Eligible Children Automatically, AICPA Says  https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/feb/irs-should-open-trump-accounts-for-eligible-children-automatically-aicpa-says/   NASBA Urges U.S. Department of Education to Restore "Professional" Status for Accounting Degrees https://nasba.org/blog/2026/03/05/status-for-accounting-degrees/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

Can an AI prep a partnership return on its own? Blake and David dig into Basis’s $100M unicorn claim, Intuit’s OpenAI/Anthropic tie-ups and Claude Cowork, and what it means for firms. They also cover how to capitalize on tariff refund lawsuits, the Senate’s push to regulate tax preparers, and the SEC weighing twice-a-year reporting—plus a quick warning about the fake “IRS locker” scam. You’ll learn where AI helps now, what to watch, and how to advise clients. SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - Welcome and Headlines (01:51) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing (03:10) - Tariffs Legal Fallout (05:50) - Refund Lawsuit Wave (09:02) - Basis AI Unicorn (15:23) - Intuit Earnings AI Blitz (25:59) - Claude Cowork Automation (32:16) - Managing Agents at Work (34:21) - AI PR Pay Boom (36:46) - AI Agents for Accounting (37:39) - SaaS Giants vs AI (39:01) - Finance Grade AI Trust (41:22) - IBM COBOL Shockwave (43:03) - Audit Enforcement Drop (44:34) - Regulating Tax Preparers (45:40) - Twice a Year Reporting (48:36) - Prediction Market Tax Bet (50:43) - Washington CPA Outsourcing (54:37) - IRS Onboarding Fumbles (55:32) - Crypto Fat Finger Disaster (01:00:01) - IRS Locker Scam Warning (01:02:13) - Livestream Q&A Wrap (01:06:19) - Book and Earmark Outro   Show Notes Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump's Sweeping Tariffs https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827 Trump's New Tariffs Under Section 122 Are Probably Also Illegal https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/01/business/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-section-122 1,800+ Companies Suing for $130 Billion in Tariff Refunds https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/1800-companies-are-suing-for-130b-in-tariff-refunds/503034 AI-for-Accounting Startup Basis Hits $1.15 Billion Valuation https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-24/ai-for-accounting-startup-basis-hits-1-15-billion-valuation Intuit and Anthropic Partner to Bring Custom AI Agents to Consumers and Businesses https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1305/intuit-and-anthropic-partner-to-bring-trusted-financial-intelligence-and-custom-ai-agents-to-consumers-and-businesses Intuit Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/26/intuit-intu-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/ IBM Shares Plunge as Anthropic Touts COBOL Modernization Efforts https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/ibm-is-the-latest-ai-casualty-shares-are-tanking-on-anthropic-cobol-threat.html AI Won't Replace Accounting Platforms — It Will Make Them More Important https://diginomica.com/ai-wont-replace-accounting-platforms-it-will-make-them-more-important Audit Enforcement Plummeted Last Year https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/audit-enforcement-plummeted-last-year Senate Finance Committee Proposes to Regulate Tax Preparers, Improve IRS Administration https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/senate-finance-committee-proposes-to-regulate-tax-preparers-improve-irs-administration SEC to Fast-Track Proposal for Semi-Annual Public Company Reporting https://www.cohenmilstein.com/sec-to-propose-rule-easing-financial-reporting-frequency-from-quarterly-to-semiannual/ Tax Nerd Bets Life Savings Against DOGE on Kalshi — and Wins https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/an-accountant-won-a-big-jackpot-on-kalshi-by-betting-against-doge/ Should We Be Concerned That More Than Half of New CPA Licenses in Washington State Went to International Candidates? https://www.goingconcern.com/should-we-be-concerned-that-more-than-half-of-new-cpa-licenses-issued-in-this-state-last-year-went-to-international-candidates/ IRS Failed to Equip New Hires in 2024 https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-failed-to-equip-new-hires-in-2024 South Korean Crypto Exchange Bithumb Accidentally Gives Away $40+ Billion in Bitcoin https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/07/south-korean-crypto-firm-accidentally-sends-out-44-billion-in-bitcoin.html Michigan Man Loses $1 Million in IRS Impersonation Scam https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/23/michigan-man-loses-1-million-in-irs-scam/178591/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcas...

SCOTUS just struck down Trump’s global tariffs—so who gets the $133B back, and how can firms capture advisory fees helping clients claim refunds? Blake and David unpack importer-of-record refunds, contingency-fee questions, and why “that’s pure profit.” Plus: taxpayers’ trust in AI tax prep is falling, creators’ $205B economy is a prime niche, TurboTax’s Uber-to-the-office play, Big Law’s $3,400/hour AI squeeze, and Dawn Brolin’s nonprofit sending first-timers to conferences you can support. SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - TAP 476 (02:53) - Who Gets the Tariff Refunds? Importer of Record & Profit Impact (05:28) - Big Opportunity for Accounting Firms: Tariff Refund Advisory & Fees (08:55) - Flashback Clip: We Called the Tariff Ruling Months Ago (12:59) - Sponsors + Trump’s Next Move: New Tariff Authority Workarounds (15:04) - Live Q&A: If Tariffs Were Passed to Buyers, Who Gets Paid Back? (16:46) - IRS Update: Average Refunds Up, But Median Still Unknown (18:13) - Taxpayers Trust AI Less for Filing + Creator Economy Tax Niche (22:13) - TurboTax + Uber Rides: The Customer Experience Arms Race (27:12) - Sponsor Break + Business Tax Shift: FASB Country-by-Country Disclosures (30:19) - IRS Still Drowning in Paper: Digitization Goals Missed (31:41) - Gambling Loss Deduction Cut to 90%: Why Break-Even Gamblers Still Owe Tax (32:58) - Skims vs. New Jersey: Sales Tax ‘Technical Error’ and the $200K Penalty (34:06) - Big Law’s Billable Hour Squeeze: AI Cuts Hours, Partners Jack Up Rates (36:12) - DIY Legal Work with ChatGPT: When a $30 Subscription Replaces a Lawyer (37:51) - Big Tech’s AI Data Centers Create a Depreciation Blind Spot for Investors (41:50) - KPMG Partner Fined for Using AI to ‘Cheat’ on an AI Exam (43:21) - Congress Targets the Pentagon’s Audit Failures: The ‘RECEIPTS Act’ (47:52) - Only 2–3 Hours of Deep Work a Day: Meetings, App Overload, and Hybrid Teams (50:17) - Interview: Accounting Cornerstone Foundation Helps First-Timers Attend Conferences (52:09) - How the Foundation Works: Funding, Emotional Support, and Picking Awardees (56:36) - Impact Stories & What’s Next: Alumni Mentorship, Fundraising, and Growing the Mission (01:00:16) - Wrap-Up: How to Support + Earn CPE/CE Credits in the Earmark App   Show Notes Supreme Court Rules 6-3 That IEEPA Does Not Authorize the President to Impose Tariffs https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf   Supreme Court Strikes Down Most of Trump's Tariffs in a Major Blow to the President https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827   Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs — What Now? https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/client-alerts/20260220-supreme-court-strikes-down-ieepa-tariffs-what-now   IRS Average Refunds Up $200 This Filing Season https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taxpayers-hesitant-to-trust-ai-to-prepare-tax-returns   Most Taxpayers Trust Tax Pros Over AI for Tax Preparation, Survey Finds https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/19/most-taxpayers-trust-tax-pros-over-ai-for-tax-preparation-survey-finds/178412/   Online Creators Worried About Finances and Income Taxes — A Growing Opportunity for Tax and Accounting Pros https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/19/online-creators-worried-about-finances-and-income-taxes-a-growing-opportunity-for-tax-accounting-pros/178423/   Intuit TurboTax Delivers the Ultimate "Done-For-You" Tax Experience Powered by AI and Human Intelligence With Uber Rides https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1304/intuit-turbotax-delivers-the-ultimate-done-for-you-tax-experience-powered-by-ai-and-human-intelligence-with-uber-rides   US Companies Pay More Taxes Abroad Than Here https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/us-companies-pay-more-taxes-abroad-than-here   IRS Falls Far Short on Paperless Processing Goal https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-falls-far-short-on-paperless-processing-goal   Will the OBBBA Gambling Deduction Change Be Reversed? https://www.natptax.com/news-insights/blog/will-the-obbba-gambling-deduction-change-be-reversed/   Kim Kardashian's Clothing Company Settles New Jersey Sales Tax Allegations https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/20/kim-kardashians-clothing-company-settles-new-jersey-sales-tax-allegations/176590/   Big Tech Accounting Creates a Blind Spot in the AI Boom https://news.futunn.com/en/post/68828373/big-tech-accounting-creates-a-blind-spot-in-the-ai   KPMG Partner in Australia Fined Over Using AI to Pass AI Test https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/16/kpmg-partner-in-australia-fined-over-using-ai-to-pass-ai-test/   Lawmakers Seek to Penalize DoD if It Fails to Pass a Clean Audit https://federalnewsnetwork.com/congress/2026/02/lawmakers-seek-to-penalize-dod-if-it-fails-to-pass-a-clean-audit/   New Hubstaff Research Finds Workers Average Only 2–3 Hours of Focus Time Per Day

Which accounting firms really deliver sane hours and happy teams? Dom Piscopo (Big Four Transparency) reveals this year’s best—and worst—by job satisfaction and hours, including surprising outliers. Blake and David also unpack how AI startups are carving up PwC-style services, why Hazel AI rattled wealth managers and Intuit/Xero stocks, and where GLs still hold a moat. Plus, a practical way to use AI for W‑4/withholding—and an accountant’s take on Carvana’s too-good-to-be-true margins. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncFutureViews System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bez Chapters(01:19) - Pets, Candy, Jewelry & Prefixed Dinners: Where the Money Goes (03:14) - Live Chat Shoutouts + Today’s Guest Tease: Big Four Transparency (05:53) - Yours, Mine & Ours: How Couples Split (or Merge) Money (08:56) - Financial Secrets vs. “Cheating”: The Bankrate Survey Findings (11:01) - Meet Dom Piscopo + 2025 Best/Worst Firms by Job Satisfaction (15:43) - How the Rankings Work: Sample Size, Methodology & Office Variance (19:28) - Service Lines Compared: Tax vs Audit vs Advisory Satisfaction Trends (22:28) - Hours Worked Rankings + Do Hours Actually Drive Happiness? (25:04) - Where the Big Four Land: Satisfaction & Hours Benchmarks (26:51) - AI Disruption Debate: “Every PWC Webpage Is a $10B Startup” Tweet (28:47) - AI Startups vs QuickBooks: The SaaS Attack Cycle Restarts (29:55) - Hazel AI Shakes Wealth Management: Tax Planning at Scale (32:19) - Consumers Trust AI Money Advice + A Withholding/W-4 Use Case (35:11) - “Good Enough” AI: How Firms Can Productize & Review AI Work (36:38) - What Humans Still Do: Taste, Comfort, and Serving the Underserved (41:51) - Intuit & Xero Stocks Drop: CEOs Defend the Data-and-Trust Moat (45:11) - TurboTax Disruption? Building Tax Engines with AI Agents (46:52) - Vibe Coding Reality Check: Small Tools Now, ERPs Much Later (51:32) - Carvana Accounting Red Flags: When Margins Don’t Add Up (56:04) - Wrap-Up: Big Four Transparency + CPE Credits via Earmark  Show Notes Valentine's Day Spending Expected to Reach New Records  https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/valentine-s-day-spending-expected-to-reach-new-records   Survey: Most Couples Keep At Least Some Of Their Money Separate  https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/couples-finances/   Survey: 2 In 5 Americans In A Relationship Have Kept A Financial Secret From Their Partner  https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/financial-infidelity-survey-2025/   AI Tax App Crashes Financial Stocks on Wall Street  https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/02/10/ai-tax-app-crashes-financial-stocks-on-wall-street/   Americans Are Asking AI for Money Advice, But Should They Trust It?  https://www.bestmoney.com/financial-advisor/learn-more/do-americans-trust-fin-ai   82% trust AI for financial information and guidance  https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/82-trust-ai-for-financial-information-and-guidance   Intuit Is Down 33% Year to Date. Here's Where the Stock Could Be Headed in 2026  https://www.tikr.com/blog/intuit-is-down-33-year-to-date-heres-where-the-stock-could-be-headed-in-2028   Intuit Stock Is Down 24% Already In 2026. Time to Buy?  https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/01/30/intuit-stock-is-down-24-already-in-2026-time-to-bu/   Xero (ASX:XRO) Shares Crash 13% in Tech Selloff—Broker Urges Hold  https://kalkine.com.au/news/technology/xero-asxxro-shares-crash-13-in-tech-selloffbroker-urges-hold   Xero share price slides 14% in a week — what to watch next for ASX:XRO  https://ts2.tech/en/xero-share-price-slides-14-in-a-week-what-to-watch-next-for-asxxro/   I've tested and ranked the 10 best vibe coding tools in 2026  https://www.techradar.com/pro/best-vibe-coding-tools   Your Complete Guide To Vibe Coding Tools In 2026: Build Apps Just By Talking To AI  https://softtechhub.us/2026/02/11/guide-to-vibe-coding/   AI startup Replit launches feature to vibe code mobile apps  https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/15/ai-startup-replit-launches-feature-to-vibe-code-mobile-apps.html   Vibe coding - Wikipedia  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_coding   What's actually driving Carvana's margins?  https://www.cfo.com/news/whats-actually-driving-carvana-margins-ernie-garcia-drivetime-bridgecrest-zach-shefska-ray-shefska-/810911/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsori...

What happens when AI starts cutting audit bills? Blake and David unpack KPMG’s push for a 14% fee cut from Grant Thornton, Botkeeper’s shutdown versus Pilot’s “AI accountant,” and how agents like Claude are already doing real client work. You’ll hear why entry-level roles are vanishing, what tax pros need to know about the IRS’s new e-payment push and Tax Pro Account upgrades, plus a fun detour: DJ John Summit’s Tax Day album. SponsorsUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters(00:00) - KPMG's AI-Driven Audit Fee Reduction (00:28) - Welcome to the Accounting Podcast (00:53) - Blake's First Time at the Waste Management Open (02:00) - John Summit: From Accountant to DJ Superstar (04:39) - John Summit's Accounting-Themed Album (09:44) - Earmark CPE: Easy CPE Credits for Accountants (12:34) - The Rise and Fall of AI Bookkeeping Startups (24:48) - Pilot's Autonomous AI Accountant (26:50) - Partnering with Accounting Firms (29:59) - AI in Bookkeeping and Accounting (33:33) - Impact of AI on Accounting Jobs (40:27) - Trump's $10 Billion Lawsuit Against the IRS (44:40) - IRS Updates and Tax Pro Accounts (49:53) - KPMG's AI Acquisition (51:14) - Airlines Save Millions with Weight Loss Drugs (52:58) - Conclusion and CPE Information   Show Notes KPMG pressed its auditor to pass on AI cost savings https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/06/kpmg-pressed-its-auditor-to-pass-on-ai-cost-savings/ Botkeeper is Closing Its Doors https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/09/botkeeper-is-closing-its-doors/177677/ Botkeeper shuts down https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/botkeeper-shuts-down Anthropic AI Tool Sparks Selloff From Software to Broader Market https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-03/legal-software-stocks-plunge-as-anthropic-releases-new-ai-tool AI fears pummel software stocks: Is it 'illogical' panic or a SaaS apocalypse? https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/06/ai-anthropic-tools-saas-software-stocks-selloff.html Pilot launches fully autonomous AI bookkeeper https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pilot-launches-fully-autonomous-ai-bookkeeper Pilot Rolls Out Fully Autonomous AI Accountant https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/04/pilot-rolls-out-fully-autonomous-ai-accountant/177453/ Pilot Unveils AI Accountant https://pilot.com/blog/pilot-unveils-ai-accountant-a-major-leap-toward-artificial-general-intelligence-in-accounting Startup Accrual Officially Launches with $75M in Funding to Bring AI-Native Automation to Accountinghttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/05/startup-accrual-officially-launches-with-75m-in-funding-to-bring-ai-native-automation-to-accounting/177600/ Tax platform Accrual launches with AI automation support for all forms https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/tax-platform-accrual-launches-with-ai-automation-support-for-all-forms Accrual Launches with $75 Million to Bring AI-Native Automation to Accountinghttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205968515/en/Accrual-Launches-with-$75-Million-to-Bring-AI-Native-Automation-to-Accounting Goldman Sachs leads $75 million funding round for Fieldguide, an AI-native accounting and audit platformhttps://fortune.com/2026/02/02/goldman-sachs-fieldguide-accounting-cpa-ai-software-platform-venture-capital/ Fieldguide Raises $75M Series C Round to Boost Audit and Advisory Firms' Agentic AI Capabilitieshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/02/fieldguide-raises-75m-series-c-round-to-boost-audit-and-advisory-firms-agentic-ai-capabilities/177323/ Fieldguide Raises $75M Series C from Goldman Sachs to Help Audit and Advisory Firms Grow with Agentic AIhttps://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/04/3232133/0/en/Pilot-Unveils-AI-Accountant-A-Major-Leap-Toward-Artificial-General-Intelligence-in-Accounting.html Trump, two sons, Trump Org sue IRS, Treasury for $10 billion over tax records leak https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/trump-sues-irs-and-treasury-for-10-billion-over-leak-of-tax-records.html Trump sues IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion over leaked tax records https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-sues-irs-treasury-department-10-billion-leaked-tax-records-rcna256626 Trump Sues Treasury and IRS for $10 Billion Over Tax Data Leak https://www.taxnotes.com/featured-news/trump-sues-treasury-and-irs-10-billion-over-tax-data-leak/2026/01/30/7txmz KPMG Brings Aboard AI Development Platform PrivateBlok https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/09/kpmg-adds-ai-development-platform-privateblok/177729/ KPMG acquires PrivateBlok, team will support AI developments https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/kpmg-acquires-privateblok-team-will-support-ai-developments KPMG Bolsters AI Product Development Function...

Could AI wipe out half of entry-level accounting roles? Blake and David recount a brazen “courier scam” on David’s porch to unpack how deepfakes and spoofed calls fuel today’s fraud (“less than 10% can tell AI video from real”). You’ll learn practical controls—family code words, approval workflows—plus hands-on AI updates: Claude’s Excel plugin and desktop agent, Gusto payroll in ChatGPT, and a prompt that forces AI to ask clarifying questions and wait for “go.” SponsorsUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncEarmarkCPE - http://accountingpodcast.promo/earmarkOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Chapters(02:02) - Personal Fraud Story: A Cautionary Tale (03:35) - Elder Fraud and AI-Driven Scams (06:53) - AI's Impact on Fraud and Security (11:39) - AI Tools for Accountants (19:40) - Earmark: CPE for Listening to Podcasts (22:01) - AI's Threat to Entry-Level Jobs (27:11) - AI Agents in Payroll and HR (35:20) - The Future of AI in Blue Collar Jobs (38:18) - AI's Role in Government Efficiency (39:52) - Simplifying the Tax Code with AI (41:42) - Payroll Innovations and AI (49:18) - Intuit's Career Pipeline Program (51:24) - Xero's New Features and AI Integration (58:48) - Conclusion and Upcoming Topics   Show Notes AI fakery turbo-charging fraud, cyber attacks https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ai-fakery-turbo-charging-fraud-cyber-attacks The Turing Reel https://runwayml.com/research/theturingreel The Adolescence of Technology https://www.darioamodei.com/essay/the-adolescence-of-technology Long-term Fears Build As 60% of U.S. Workers Say AI Will Cut More Jobs Than It Adds In 2026 https://allwork.space/2026/01/long-term-fears-build-as-60-of-u-s-workers-say-ai-will-cut-more-jobs-than-it-adds-in-2026/ ADP® Accelerates AI Leadership with Launch of New AI Agents Designed to Solve Workforce Challenges https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adp-accelerates-ai-leadership-with-launch-of-new-ai-agents-designed-to-solve-workforce-challenges-302672772.html Exclusive: Gusto launching payroll inside ChatGPT https://www.thisweekinfintech.com/exclusive-gusto-launching-payroll-inside-chatgpt/ Trump DOT Plans to Use Google Gemini AI to Write Regulations https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-artificial-intelligence-google-gemini-transportation-regulations Intuit Launches New Career Pipeline Program to Empower the Next Generation of Accountants in the AI Era https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1296/intuit-launches-new-career-pipeline-program-to-empower-the-next-generation-of-accountants-in-the-ai-era Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Are you accidentally breaking CPA rules across state lines? Guest Lindsay Patterson, CPA CIA breaks down the new mobility landscape after alternative licensure paths—and the surprising data firms must track to avoid fines, failed peer reviews, and redoing audits. Plus: Congress’s Fiscal State of the Nation bill, Deloitte’s PR storm, QuickBooks’ AI reconciliation, and what’s driving a rebound in accounting majors. Walk away knowing where to get licensed, what triggers penalties, and how to protect your firm. SponsorsTaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbanditsEarmark - http://accountingpodcast.promo/earmarkOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and CPA Email Incident (00:33) - AI in QuickBooks: A Game Changer? (06:00) - Live Stream Shoutouts and YouTube Promotion (06:54) - New Legislation: Fiscal State of the Nation Act (10:37) - CPA Mobility and Alternative Pathways (11:47) - Guest Segment: Lindsay Patterson on CPA Mobility (33:13) - Deloitte's Bad Week: Controversies and Criticisms (35:58) - CPA Firms in Trouble: The Zwick CPA Case (40:05) - Jerome Powell's Defiant Statement (44:29) - Why Accountants Leave Public Accounting (51:24) - Listener Emails and Final Thoughts (52:08) - The Future of Accounting Jobs (55:12) - Private Equity in CPA Firms   Meet Lindsay Patterson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypatterson/ Show Notes AICPA Urges Congressional Support for Fiscal State of the Nation Act https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-urges-congressional-support-for-fiscal-state-of-the-nation-act Barr Reintroduces Bipartisan Fiscal State of the Nation Act to Strengthen Oversight of Government Spending https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?id=EDF451C5-EEAE-44D7-85A8-2B714E9D7822 For CPAs, one license — and 55 rulebooks https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/for-cpas-one-license-and-55-rulebooks Deloitte's Disturbing Pattern Allegedly Cost Americans Health Coverage, Delayed Benefits, and the US Government $74Bhttps://www.ibtimes.co.uk/deloittes-disturbing-pattern-allegedly-cost-americans-health-coverage-delayed-benefits-us-1773010 Deloitte to ramp up India operations with 50,000 new hires https://www.internationalaccountingbulletin.com/news/deloitte-hiring-india/ PCAOB Sanctions Audit Firm, an Owner of That Firm, and a Former Audit Manager for Multiple Violations of PCAOB Rules and Standardshttps://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-sanctions-audit-firm--an-owner-of-that-firm--and-a-former-audit-manager-for-multiple-violations-of-pcaob-rules-and-standards PCAOB bars Zwick CPA, owner and manager https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-bars-zwick-cpa-owner-and-manager Turnover Experiences in Public Accounting and Alumni's Decisions to 'Give Back' https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4266300 U.S. Accounting Undergraduate Enrollment Rises for Third Straight Year https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-accounting-undergraduate-enrollment-rises-for-third-straight-year-302665511.html Accounting undergrad enrollment rises for third year https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-undergrad-enrollment-rises-for-third-year Capital One to Acquire Brex https://investor.capitalone.com/news-releases/news-release-details/capital-one-acquire-brex Capital One is buying startup Brex for $5.15 billion in credit card firm's latest deal https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/capital-one-is-buying-startup-brex-for-5point15-billion-in-credit-card-firms-latest-deal.html Florida Republican candidate suggests 'sin tax' for OnlyFans creators https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5691927-florida-governor-candidate-sin-tax/ Florida gubernatorial candidate proposes 50% "sin" tax on OnlyFans creators; top earner Sophie Rain pushes backhttps://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-onlyfans-tax-proposal-james-fishback-sophie-rain/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: h...

Carla McCall shares insights on the challenges faced by the accounting profession, including workload, work-life balance, and the AICPA's role. She addresses misconceptions about the responsibilities of the AICPA, discusses her firm's approach to managing work hours and culture transformation, and highlights the need for creative solutions to attract new talent. The discussion also explores the systemic issue of overwork in large accounting firms and the potential measures that could alleviate these pressures. Meet Our Guest, Carla McCall https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamccallaaf/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Are we causing our own busy-season chaos? Blake and David break down a simple scheduling system that spreads tax work, trains clients, and slashes extensions. They debate Congress’s barcode bill vs. e-filing, unpack a poll showing GOP support for a millionaire’s tax, and ask what AI really changes when managers still have to review the bots. Plus: IRS CI’s latest wins, whistleblower e-filing, and a Britney tax fight. SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayTaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbanditsUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(01:11) - AI and Survey Creation (02:30) - Google's Personal Intelligence (05:11) - IRS Defunding and Workforce Reduction (06:51) - CPA Trendlines Busy Season Barometer (11:12) - Barcode Efficiency Act (15:24) - IRS Criminal Investigations (17:24) - Payroll Headaches and OnPay (18:56) - SBA and IRS Employee Fraud (21:41) - IRS Whistleblower Office (23:08) - Britney Spears vs. IRS (24:04) - Washington State Millionaires Tax (27:01) - Busy Season Is Self-Inflicted (30:44) - Livestream and CPE Credits (31:24) - UNC Kenan-Flagler MAC Program (32:38) - A New Year's Eve Pink Eye Adventure (33:20) - AI Prescriptions in Utah (35:03) - Trust in Accountants at Historic Lows (39:13) - Listener Mail: Advisory Services and Online Degrees (45:30) - The CPA Exam: Challenges and Changes (01:03:17) - Closing Remarks and Earmark App Growth   Show Notes Are Washingtonians Finally Ready for a State Income Tax?  https://www.dhmresearch.com/are-washingtonians-finally-ready-for-a-state-income-tax/   Guess Who Supports a Millionaires Tax in Washington State? Republicans, Poll Finds  https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/14/guess-who-supports-a-millionaires-tax-in-washington-state-republicans-poll-finds/176337/   Barometer: Firms Brace for a Tough Tax Season  https://cpatrendlines.com/2025/10/01/barometer-firms-brace-for-a-tough-tax-season/   IRS Advisory Council blasts defunding of agency  https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-advisory-council-blasts-defunding-of-agency   IRS Advisory Council report defends workers, criticizes budget and staff cuts  https://www.thetaxadviser.com/news/2026/jan/irs-advisory-council-report-defends-workers-criticizes-budget-and-staff-cuts/   Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council PUBLIC REPORT January 2026  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5316.pdf   Lengthy grudge motivated Brown mass shooting, MIT professor killing: Sources  https://abcnews.go.com/US/lengthy-grudge-motivated-brown-mass-shooting-mit-professor/story?id=128961044   A Reddit post helped find MIT and Brown shooting suspect. Here's what we know  https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5649528/brown-mit-shooter-what-we-know   Former SBA and IRS Employee Charged with Using Government Positions to Steal Millions from COVID Relief Programs https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-sba-and-irs-employee-charged-using-government-positions-steal-millions-covid   Hampton woman accused of using federal jobs to steal pandemic relief funds  https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/hampton-woman-accused-using-federal-jobs-steal-pandemic-relief-funds   House advances bill to speed tax return processing via barcodes  https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/house-advances-bill-to-speed-tax-return-processing-via-barcodes   BARCODE Efficiency Act Brings Overdue Modernization to the IRS  https://atr.org/barcode-efficiency-act-brings-overdue-modernization-to-the-irs/   Utah and Doctronic Announce Groundbreaking Partnership for AI Prescription Medication Renewals https://commerce.utah.gov/2026/01/06/news-release-utah-and-doctronic-announce-groundbreaking-partnership-for-ai-prescription-medication-renewals/   Utah allows nation's first AI drug prescriptions https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/01/07/utah-ai-drug-prescriptions-doctronic   Nurses Continue to Lead in Honesty and Ethics Ratings  https://news.gallup.com/poll/700736/nurses-continue-lead-honesty-ethics-ratings.aspx   Americans' Ratings of U.S. Professions Stay Historically Low  https://news.gallup.com/poll/655106/americans-ratings-professions-stay-historically-low.aspx   Britney Spears disputes $600K tax claim https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/britney-spears-disputes-600k-tax-claim   Britney Spears Fighting With IRS Over $600,000 https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/19/britney-spears-fighting-with-irs-taxes/   Right Now, Managing AI Agents is About as Much Work as Managing Humans. Just Different Work. https://www.saastr.com/right-now-managing-ai-agents-is-about-as-much-work-as-managing-humans/   The 'Godfather of SaaS' says he replaced most of his s...

Raids replaced audits, and guns replaced spreadsheets. Blake and David connect the dots from Minnesota's sprawling public-assistance fraud to a decade of IRS budget cuts and ICE crackdowns. You'll learn why enforcement shifted from prevention to raids, what California's one-time billionaire tax really proposes, how new AICPA rules could hit PE-backed firms, and why a botched audit didn't cost PwC its client, plus one pro tip to level up your Excel game. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayTaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbanditsUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters(00:00) - TAP 470 (00:33) - Minnesota Fraud Scandal Overview (03:18) - Historical Context and IRS Budget Cuts (08:34) - IRS and ICE Collaboration Issues (10:39) - Impact of Budget Cuts on Fraud (20:56) - Current Events and Political Reactions (26:17) - California Billionaire Tax Act (27:58) - Billionaire Tax Proposal Discussion (29:01) - Challenges of Implementing Wealth Tax (29:58) - Practical Concerns and Comparisons (34:24) - VRBO's Legal Battle with Michigan (36:46) - Private Equity and CPA Firms (47:17) - UNC Master of Accounting Program (51:11) - Excel World Championships Insights (55:27) - Earmark App for CPE Credits   Show Notes Judge hits pause on IRS sharing taxpayer information with ICE https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/judge-issues-order-blocking-irs-sharing-taxpayer-information-ice-rcna245262 Federal Agents Pepper Spray Protesters During Tucson Taco Giro Raid https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/12/05/tucson-ice-raid-protests-taco-giro Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Think Their Financial Security Is Worsening https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/12/29/poll-nearly-half-of-americans-think-their-financial-security-is-worsening/175587/ California Billionaire Tax Act (2026 Billionaire Tax Act - PDF) https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/25-0024A1%20(Billionaire%20Tax%20).pdf Vrbo Parent Company Sues Michigan Over $18.8 Million Tax Bill https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/02/vrbo-parent-company-sues-michigan-over-18-8-million-tax-bill/175675/ AICPA Seeks Comment on Ethics Rules Update for Alternative Practice Structures https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-seeks-comment-on-ethics-rules-update-for-alternative-practice WH Smith asks shareholders to support PwC despite audit error https://www.internationalaccountingbulleteen.com/news/wh-smith-support-pwc-audit-error/ I won the Microsoft Excel World Championship. Here's what every office worker should know about Excel. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/won-microsoft-excel-world-championship-093001306.html Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page