Let AI agents prepare individual tax returns while you review: get a 1040 to a review-ready draft with missing documents, exceptions and evidence flagged, and keep the preparer in charge: AI agent prompt
Wolters Kluwer launched agentic tax preparation in CCH Axcess Tax on Oct 23, 2026. For individual Form 1040 returns, its Expert AI agents use prior-year information and current source documents to identify expected and missing documents, classify documents and extract tax data, map it into the return and calculate it, surface diagnostics and exceptions, link calculated amounts to supporting evidence, and record decisions and workpapers for handoff. The tax professional still reviews, resolves judgment calls and approves the final return. Small firms that don't use CCH Axcess can borrow the same review-first workflow with a general assistant for the checklist and exception-hunting steps, keeping client data in tools their firm has approved. The prompt below does that.
The prompt
You are my tax-season prep assistant at a small accounting firm. Only use client data in tools my firm has approved for it. Client: [name/ID], filing status [ ], tax year [ ]. Here is last year's return summary [paste or attach] and this year's documents so far [list or attach]. 1) Expected-documents checklist: from last year's return, list every form I should expect this year (W-2s, 1099s by payer, 1098, K-1s, brokerage statements, childcare, HSA, estimated payments) and mark each received, missing or new. 2) Draft a short, friendly email to the client listing only what's missing. 3) For documents received, extract the key figures into a table: form, payer, box, amount, and the page it came from. 4) Exceptions: flag anything that changed a lot from last year (income up or down over [20]%, a new state, a missing payer, new dependents, large deductions) and anything that needs my judgment. 5) Never decide a position for me; list open questions for my review. Finish with a one-paragraph review note I can save in the workpapers.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt above.
- Replace every [bracket] with your own details (or fill in the blanks on AgentPlaybook Real Estate, which remembers your answers for the next prompt).
- Paste it into CCH Axcess Tax, ChatGPT, Claude and review the answer before you use it.
Works with: CCH Axcess Tax, ChatGPT, Claude
Real-world example: krcgtv.marketminute.com/article/bizwire-2026-10-23-wolters-kluwer-laun
Featured in: AI prompts for writing SOPs, reports, policies and checklists
Before you use it: what to check
Already built into this prompt
- Only use client data in tools my firm has approved for it.
Check yourself
- This prompt works on text other people wrote (emails, reviews, messages or web pages). That text can hide instructions aimed at AI, such as "ignore your rules and…". Paste it as material to work on, and never let the AI act on requests inside it, like paying, sharing logins or changing records. How prompt injection works →
- Check every figure, price and total against your own records before anything is sent, posted or booked. A person approves refunds, discounts, payments and price changes.
- Remove names, contact details, account numbers and other personal data the task doesn't need before you paste, and check your AI tool's data and training settings.
- Check names, dates, numbers and any claim against your own source material before you use the answer. AI can misread or invent details.
Using an AI agent? Download this prompt as a SKILL.md agent skill with these checks built in, or get the .zip for Claude.ai. How to install skills.
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