While most taxpayers tend to procrastinate on doing their taxes, they’re even more hesitant to trust artificial intelligence to do their taxes for them, according to a new survey.
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The survey, released Wednesday by Invoice Home, a developer of invoice template software, polled 2,003 U.S. consumers about their taxes, and found 63% of them do not trust AI as opposed to a tax professional.
There is less of a tendency to use AI for help with taxes this year. Nearly two in five (37%) of the American tax filers surveyed said they would consider trusting AI to file their taxes this year over hiring a tax professional, a 14% decrease from 2025 (43%). This willingness varies by generation, with 40% of Gen X, 50% of millennials and 46% of Gen Z respondents saying they would consider trusting AI with their taxes.
Visualization created with AI assistance based on original reporting.
While nearly three in 10 (28%) of the respondents don’t plan on doing anything to manage their finances differently in 2026 beyond day-to-day lifestyle adjustments, others are looking for outside support from technology. That includes investing in digital tools (29%), seeking support from AI (24%), relying on ChatGPT for financial advice (24%), and hiring a financial planner/advisor for the first time (22%).
Half (50%) of the respondents plan to file their taxes as soon as they receive their W-2, but only 42% of them are confident they will file their taxes correctly this year, only slightly better than last year’s poll when the number was 41%.
Only two-thirds of Gen Z (33%) and millennials (36%) expressed confidence in filing their taxes. Those who aren’t sure of themselves would go great lengths to avoid filing, saying they would prefer to do the following as opposed to filing their own taxes because they’re not confident in doing so:
Renew their driver’s license at the DMV – 22% total; 32% of Gen Z; 25% of millennials;Give up non-essential spending for a month – 15% total; 21% of Gen Z; 17% of millennials; and,Take a driver’s license online exam – 15% total; 23% of Gen Z; 20% of millennials.
“We continue to see a lack of confidence for nearly half of respondents when filing their taxes each year,” said Invoice Home CEO Petr Marek in a statement. “Most Americans only engage with their taxes once a year, and it’s a high stress situation surrounded by fear of making a costly mistake. Building confidence starts with preparing throughout the year and leaning on tools and experts to help with the overall process.”
Nevertheless, tax refunds offer a way to receive much-needed funds. The early results from the IRS on the first two weeks of tax season indicate that the average tax refund has increased $200 compared to last year, and estimates are much higher for the rest of tax season, thanks to the new tax breaks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the IRS’s decision not to change the withholding tables last year.
Tax refunds are especially needed by young people, with one in five (21%) of Gen Z respondents to the survey indicating they’re relying on their tax return to cover their cost-of-living expenses the month they file, and if they don’t receive the tax refund they were expecting, they:
Will have to borrow money from family/friends/a partner – 21% of Gen Z; 14% of millennials;Won’t be able to afford rent/mortgage that month – 18% of Gen Z; 8% of millennials;Won’t be able to afford groceries and household items that month – 16% of Gen Z; 13% of millennials; and,Will have to set up a payment plan with the IRS if they owe money – 15% of Gen Z; 18% of millennials.
Last year, many Gen Z members relied on delayed payments to afford the cost of even basic necessities. Over one-third (36%) of Gen Z survey respondents said they used “buy now, pay later” services to spread out their payments within the past year, according to the survey.
