I Let AI Do My Tax Return – Here’s Why I’ll Never Make That Mistake Again

Why AI Shortcuts Can Be Costly

The phone rang, and I could tell straight away this wasn’t going to be a normal client call.

“I… I don’t know what to do,” the client stammered. “HMRC have sent me a penalty notice… and I don’t even know why!”

I asked them to take a deep breath and explain.

“I used one of those AI apps to do my self-assessment,” they said. “It just seemed so easy. I thought, you know, why bother doing it myself or calling an accountant? The app said it could handle everything in minutes…

As they went on, the picture became clear. The AI had completely missed income from a rental property in Sunderland. It hadn’t accounted for legitimate expenses that could have reduced their bill. And some of the assumptions it had made were flagged by HMRC as errors.

“I just thought it would save me time, I never imagined I’d end up with letters, fines… and this stress.”

As I always say, most thing are-and excuse my terrible grammar-'figureoutable'. We worked through the issues together. I corrected the return, submitted the accurate figures, and liaised with HMRC to reduce some of the penalties. But the experience had already left a mark. The client was shaken—and rightly so.

Their phone call (and panic) was a stark reminder that the fastest option isn’t always the safest. AI can help, yes, but it can’t replace a human accountant or tax specialist who understands your unique circumstances.

And that’s the lesson for all of us. Technology is moving fast, and AI can be a helpful tool—but when it comes to taxes, experience, judgement, and careful review are irreplaceable. One misstep, and the cost isn’t just money—it’s stress, time, and peace of mind.

#DurhamAccountants #TaxReturns #AIrisks #NorthEastBusiness #TaxAdvice #TheTaxFaculty #HMRC #AccountingMatters #DigitalTax #AIandTaxes