Paul Redmond writes. Paul is the founder of RDA Accountants. A recognised voice in modern accountancy, Paul helps business owners and accountants achieve clarity, growth, and long-term impact through his frameworks on wealth, strategy, and advisory transformation. Introduction: a defining decade Every profession has defining decades – periods when technology and expectations force a complete reinvention. For accountants, this is one of those decades. We’ve already lived through three major shifts: from ledgers to spreadsheets, from desktop software to the cloud, and from static reporting to real-time collaboration. Each step freed us from manual drudgery and increased our efficiency. Artificial Intelligence (AI), however, is different. Unlike past shifts that digitised existing work, AI reshapes the work itself. It changes what accountants do, how we deliver value, and even how clients perceive us. Used poorly, AI risks reducing us to faster processors of compliance tasks - a commodity in a race to the bottom on fees. Used strategically, it gives us the power to become navigators of business success, guiding clients with insight, foresight, and clarity. The choice is ours. Why AI is arriving now AI’s rapid arrival in accountancy isn’t random. Four converging forces make this the perfect moment: Data overload: businesses now produce enormous volumes of data from e-commerce, CRM systems, banking feeds, and apps. Most of it goes unused because humans can’t process it all. AI thrives in this environment, ingesting and analysing vast datasets in seconds. Rising client expectations: Netflix predicts films, Google anticipates searches - our clients live in an AI-powered world. They now expect real-time insights, proactive guidance, and personalised advice from their accountants, not just year-end reporting. Margin pressure: Compliance work is being commoditised by cloud software and low-cost providers. To escape shrinking margins, firms must shift towards higher-value, insight-led services. Talent shortages: Fewer graduates are choosing traditional accounting. The repetitive nature of compliance makes retention difficult. AI offers relief by automating low-value work, freeing teams for more engaging, strategic roles. Together, these forces make AI not optional, but essential. Practical AI in today’s firm AI isn’t a distant future – it’s already embedded in tools we use daily. Here are six practical applications that are reshaping firms: Automated data capture: OCR and machine learning categorise invoices, receipts, and bank transactions with minimal human input (e.g. Dext, Auto Entry). Predictive forecasting: Dynamic models replace static spreadsheets, enabling scenario planning in real time (e.g. Futrli, Fathom). Plain-language reporting: NLP tools translate financial data into clear narrative commentary clients can actually understand (e.g. Microsoft Co-pilot). Workflow optimisation: AI analyses projects, reallocates workloads, and helps practices meet deadlines more reliably (e.g. FYI Docs with Co-pilot). Anomaly detection: Machine learning flags unusual transactions and potential fraud instantly. Knowledge management: AI assists with tax or compliance research, cutting hours from manual work and increasing confidence in advice. Key point: AI replaces repetitive effort, not accountants. It frees us to spend more time interpreting, guiding, and advising. Avoiding the trap: tech-first thinking One of the biggest mistakes firms make is starting with the tool instead of the outcome. Too often, a partner buys software after a slick demo, only for it to gather dust when it doesn’t fit real client needs. The better path is client-first adoption: Define the client result (e.g. “improve cash flow visibility”). Map the process to deliver it. Identify the AI that accelerates or enhances that process. When AI is embedded in a structured, outcome-driven workflow, it stops being a shiny toy and becomes a genuine profit driver. A client-first model for AI adoption Firms succeeding with AI often follow a five-stage rhythm: Discovery – data pull: AI-enabled tools gather a client’s full financial position in minutes, not hours, creating a rich foundation for advisory conversations. Clarity – turning data into insight: AI converts raw data into dashboards, benchmarks, and models, highlighting the top opportunities or risks without drowning clients in spreadsheets. Guidance – human + AI: Accountants interpret insights, ask deeper questions, and deliver recommendations. AI provides the analysis; humans provide wisdom and context. Execution – reliable delivery: Workflow tools automate follow-ups, deadlines, and task allocation so advice is consistently delivered. Continuous monitoring – always-on support: AI alerts accountants to risks or opportunities between meetings (e.g. low cash thresholds), enabling proactive contact. This model transforms advisory from one-off sessions into continuous partnership. Case studies – AI in action Manufacturing cash flow turnaround: A €2.8m family-owned manufacturer struggled with stock inefficiencies. Using AI forecasting, the firm modelled different reorder strategies. A just-in-time approach cut stock write-offs by 40% and freed €120k in cash, which funded new machinery and growth. Retail margin improvement: A retailer saw sales rising but margins falling. AI sales mix analysis revealed 12% of SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit) were unprofitable once marketing spend was factored in. Dropping these improved net margin by 2.5% annually. Result: In both cases, AI supplied clarity, but the accountant supplied confidence and strategy. Overcoming adoption barriers Even with clear benefits, adoption isn’t smooth. Common barriers include: Skills gap: Teams fear they lack knowledge. Fix: Run small AI literacy workshops on tools staff already use. Nominate an “AI champion.” Cost concerns: Licences feel expensive. Fix: Start with one high-impact use case, prove ROI, then expand. Cultural resistance: Staff fear job loss. Fix: Frame AI as support, not replacement – removing low-value work so people can focus on meaningful, engaging tasks. Data security: Clients worry about confidentiality. Fix: Vet vendors rigorously, demand compliance certifications, and communicate transparently about data use. Handled well, these barriers become opportunities to build trust. Redefining the accountant’s role AI doesn’t change what clients ultimately seek: trust, clarity, and strategic partnership. It simply enhances our ability to deliver it. The accountant of today – and certainly of 2030 – will be: A navigator: using AI insights as a compass to help clients chart their course. A translator: converting complex data into clear, empowering stories. A strategist: aligning financial insight with business goals, spotting opportunities, and mitigating risks. Future specialisms will emerge, from data accountants skilled in governance and analytics, to CFO-as-a-Service providers offering real-time strategic guidance to SMEs who can’t afford full-time CFOs. The automation of compliance gives us back the most precious resource: time. What we do with it defines our future. The ethical compass As trusted professionals, we must ensure AI is used responsibly. Four principles matter most: Bias: AI learns from historical data, which may carry hidden biases. We must question and validate outputs. Transparency: Black-box models can’t justify conclusions. Accountants must ensure advice is explainable. Governance: Clients deserve clarity on where data is stored, who can access it, and how it’s used. Accountability: No matter how advanced the AI, responsibility for professional advice rests with us. Our credibility depends not on how advanced our tools are, but on how responsibly we use them. Roadmap – bringing AI into your practice You don’t need a revolution overnight. A structured approach works best: Identify one high-value client outcome (e.g. faster invoice payments). Map your current process. Choose an AI tool to enhance it. Pilot with a small group of willing clients. Refine based on feedback. Standardise and roll out more broadly. Review quarterly to adapt and improve. This rhythm turns AI from an experiment into a consistent growth engine. Conclusion – leading the change AI will reshape accountancy whether we like it or not. The firms that thrive will not be the cheapest or the fastest at compliance, but those who combine AI’s scale with human judgment, trust, and empathy. We can remain record-keepers of the past - or become navigators of the future. That future is already here. The only question is: will you lead with it? This excerpt has been taken from the September 2025 edition of Practice News.

In UK developments we take a closer look at last week’s Autumn Budget examining both the personal and business taxes tax announcements. In Irish news this week, MyFutureFund, the country’s new pensions auto-enrolment system, opens for employers to register, and we bring you an update from the recent TALC Collections sub-committee meeting. In International news, the OECD has published its report on corporate tax statistics for 2025. UK 1. Read the main announcements impacting individual taxpayers in last week’s Autumn Budget which included frozen thresholds, increased rates of income tax for property, savings, and dividend income, and earlier self-assessment payment obligations. 2. On the business and employer tax side, Budget Day announcements included a soft landing for Making Tax Digital for income tax, unchanged corporation tax rates, e-invoicing from 2029, more timely payments of VAT and PAYE, and frozen employer NICs thresholds. Ireland 3. The registration portal for Ireland’s new pensions auto-enrolment system, MyFutureFund launched this week. 4. Read an update from the TALC collections sub-committee meeting held in November International 5. The OECD has recently released its 2025 Corporate Tax Statistics report. Keep up to date with all the latest Irish, UK, and international tax developments through Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Tax Newsletter. Subscribe to the Tax News by updating your preferences in MyAccount.  

Commenting on the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, Cróna Clohisey, Director of Members and Advocacy at Chartered Accountants Ireland said  “It is evident that today’s report is the result of engagement with external expertise by the Taskforce, combined with the sectoral experience on the Taskforce itself. This represents an encouraging change in approach to the infrastructure challenge, with a strong focus on a culture of accountability and delivery.  “Infrastructure deficits need to be addressed holistically and strategically if Ireland is to achieve its growth ambitions. These 30 well-considered, high impact actions are encouraging from our perspective as a professional body representing 40,000 businesspeople across the economy. It is also encouraging to see such a commitment to reduce regulatory barriers in Ireland, and the acknowledgment that this will be done against a background of EU simplification. We look forward to seeing implementation under the four pillars in 2026.”  

Revenue has updated two other guidance notes this week dealing with debt issue costs, and Hepatitis C compensation payments.  The details are as follows: The guidance on the tax treatment of Debt Issuance Costs (including interest cap fees) has been updated to include details previously contained in the guidance titled the tax treatment of interest cap fees. The updated guidance on the taxation of compensation payments made to individuals diagnosed with Hepatitis C and HIV includes new sections detailing the relevant legislation and definitions applicable to the available exemption.

Revenue has updated its guidance on the anti-hybrid rules to outline changes to the application of the associated enterprises test to partnerships. It confirms that, with respect to the voting rights of shares held through the partnership, partners in a partnership are always deemed to be ‘acting together’. The Institute has been engaging with Revenue through the Tax Administration Liaison Forum to get clarity on this complex issue.

Last week, Finance Bill 2025 completed its fourth stage through the Oireachtas and the Report Stage Amendments to Finance Bill 2025 were published. The Bill now proceeds to the Second Stage in the Seanad. The Report Stage provides the opportunity to address and discuss the amendments arising from the Committee Stage and to provide additional details on proposed changes in the Finance Bill. Clarification on the VAT rate on the sale of certain apartment, as well as further additional items, can be found in the Report Stage amendments.

In our newsletter last week, we outlined that Revenue is inviting VAT-registered businesses managed by its Large Corporates Division to complete a VAT Modernisation and eInvoicing survey to inform Ireland’s implementation of the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package. Revenue has shared a copy of the ROS Notice that issued to LCD taxpayers last week and we encourage businesses to take part in this survey, as their feedback is essential in shaping the ViDA implementation plans. The survey was sent via ROS directly to all VAT registered businesses with an active ROS Digital Certificate managed by Large Corporates Division.

Revenue has updated the Revenue Technical Services manual to include relevant contact details and minor wording changes regarding communications and the acceptance criteria for complex technical queries. The guidance explains that the current structure has been designed to facilitate complex queries and to enhance the overall technical capacity of the service. The Institute is aware of the important of this service to members and it regularly features in our engagement with Revenue through the Tax Administration Liaison Forum (TALC). The guidance outlines that all non-Large Case RTS queries are managed on a national basis by a dedicated team consisting of a centralised Queries Management Team (QMT), full-time caseworkers as well as rotational and part-time caseworkers. As mentioned above, this structure is designed to enhance the overall technical capacity countrywide and lead to more efficient turn-around times. Complex and technical queries for cases managed by Revenue’s Large Cases (LCD) and High Wealth and Financial Services (HW&FSD) Divisions are dealt with in the first instance by the branch in those divisions with responsibility for managing the relevant case. Complex and technical queries must be submitted to the relevant branch using the mandatory submission form RTS 1A.

Revenue has updated two guidance documents on share schemes, dealing with restricted shares and unapproved share options providing several clarifications on each of the schemes. The updated manuals also contain useful changes to the layout of certain information as well as helpful guidance on completing the Form RSS1. Paragraph 8.2 of the guidance on restricted shares has been revised to clarify that the conditions attached to restricted shares apply both at the time of acquisition and throughout the entire specified period. The updated guidance confirms that Revenue approval is required for restricted shares held in any arrangement other than a trust. The guidance also confirms that a disposal or transfer before the end of the specified period and in circumstances not covered by section 128D(3) TCA 1997, may result in the shares no longer being restricted for the purposes of section 128D TCA 1997. Certain presentation changes were also made to the guide. The guidance on unapproved share options has been updated to confirm that the employer is responsible for remitting the tax due at the date of grant of a long option, and to outline the process for providing a payroll credit upon exercise of the long option for any income tax paid at the date of grant. The guidance also clarifies the amount of the gain to be included on the Form RSS1 where an individual is taxable in Ireland on a portion of the share option gain under a double tax agreement. References to indexation on disposal of shares acquired pre-2003 has been removed from the guidance.

The registration portal for Ireland’s new pensions auto-enrolment system, MyFutureFund, launches today and the new auto-enrolment scheme itself launches from 1 January 2026. In a recent survey conducted by the Institute in partnership with GRID Finance, almost two-thirds of businesses indicated they are prepared for the 1 January start date. Given that there is likely to be a substantial amount of traffic on the new portal over the coming days, we recommend a certain degree of patience. This is unfortunately a common occurrence for any new platform dealing with high volumes of internet traffic. With that said, please do send any persistent issues to tax@chartertedaccountants.ie where we can consider the issue in any subsequent engagement with the Department of Social Protection.

The Institute, under the auspices of the CCAB-I, made representations on behalf of members at last week’s meeting of the TALC Collections Sub-Committee. At the meeting, Revenue provided an update on local property tax (LPT) and 2024 self- assessment income tax compliance. In addition, Revenue provided an update on the release of the Form 11 and Form 1 for 2025. Revenue asked that we remind practitioners to maintain vigilance and review their security procedures following recent incidents of identity theft. LPT compliance Revenue noted that while returns have been filed in respect of 1.4 million properties (70 percent) for 2026, a further 300,000 taxpayers have paid or made arrangements to pay 2026 LPT without filing a return. 2024 Form 11 Revenue noted that there were approximately 620,000 income tax returns filed by midnight 19 November 2025, up 2.3 percent on 2024. Online payments of income tax amounted to 3.45 billion, up 8 percent on 2024. Revenue advised it will make contact with the small cohort of taxpayers, and their agents, that were impacted by a technical issue relating to UK DIRT. 2025 Form 11 and Form 1 The 2025 Form 11 and Form 1 will be released at the beginning of January 2026. However, as selected functionality has been rescheduled until a further release of the forms in  late‑march ,it is recommended not to file a 2025 return where any of the following apply: Form11 Sports Bodies Donations (Personal Tax Credits Panel). Section 1008A tick box and additional field for the name of the medical partnership. Exempt Income, section 216F to be itemised as an exemption. Form1 PWST pre-population and updates (Trading Income Panel). New fields for NLWT tax paid to date and Preliminary Tax due (Statement of Net Liabilities). Additional tick box required to indicate if exempt rental income from leasing of farmland was purchased on or after 1 January 2024 (Irish Rental Income Panel). Identity theft In light of a number of practitioners being targeted for identity theft earlier this year, Revenue reminded practitioners to review their security procedures and maintain vigilance. Revenue outlined that it values the role agents play in the safeguarding of the system, however, where exchequer losses are attributed to the failure of an agent’s security controls, Revenue may pursue appropriate recovery and remedial actions.

In recognition that the existing limits in some of these schemes restrict their availability to companies in their critical scale-up phase, the Government announced a package of tax changes to support scaling companies to attract investment and talent. There is also an objective to take further steps to ensure tax support is ‘founder friendly’. A call for evidence has therefore been published seeking input from across the scale-up and investor community on the impact of existing schemes and options to provide further support to ensure the UK entrepreneurial ecosystem thrives. The VCT and EIS company investment limits will increase to £10 million (£20 million for Knowledge Intensive Companies (KICs)) and the lifetime company investment limit will increase to £24 million (£40 million for KICs). From April 2026, the gross assets test will increase to £30 million before share issue, and £35 million after. However, the rate of VCT income tax relief will decrease from 30 percent to 20 percent. No changes were announced to the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.