During CFO.com’s recent virtual event, Navigating the Corporate Tax Frontier, tax and finance leaders talked about the future of corporate taxation. They focused on how AI is changing the field, the possibility of future tax increases, and ways to build a stronger accounting talent pipeline. 

One main takeaway was the importance of blending new technology with professional judgment, reported CFO.com. The panelists agreed that AI is making tax work more efficient and helping with forecasting, but they also pointed out that human expertise is still needed to interpret results and apply them to real business decisions. 

“We believe in AI-powered humans, the people who have domain expertise that use AI, they’re going to be unstoppable,” said Dean Quiambao, technology industry leader at Armanino. Other speakers also said that tax professionals are crucial for deciding if AI-generated results make sense and can be used in practice. 

The event also looked at the long-term financial outlook. Blake Oliver, co-host of The Accounting Podcast, said that tax increases are likely in the future because of growing federal debt. He encouraged finance leaders to look at past economic cycles and get ready for possible changes in tax policy. 

Tax attorney and CPA Jasmine DiLucci talked about the increase in tax misinformation on social media, warning that many schemes come from misunderstandings of real tax rules. She also pointed out that the recent return of immediate research and development expense deductions is a big benefit for businesses investing in innovation. 

Panelists highlighted the lasting value of the CPA credential, calling it a strong base for many business and leadership roles. As firms compete for talent, speakers suggested that offering more flexible ways to get licensed could attract students who might otherwise pick careers in finance, business analytics, or data science.