Show Notes
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.
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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-
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