How technology promotes tax productivity and workplace wellness

In the high-pressure world of accounting, the pursuit of tax productivity can come at a steep cost: employee wellness. Long hours, mounting deadlines, and relentless workloads have created a culture of burnout among staff and management. Now a new paradigm is emerging. Today’s technology can drive efficiency and create a healthier work environment. 

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The productivity-wellness paradox 

For years, accounting firms have operated under the assumption that more hours equal greater output. But as many firm leaders are realizing, those long busy season workdays have a price. Heavy workloads coupled with a shrinking accountant supply have resulted in a vicious cycle where staff are burnt out, less productive, and in many cases, looking for job opportunities elsewhere. 

And this year, the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will add another layer of complexity to an already demanding busy season. The legislation has created major tax implications that firms must navigate in tandem with their existing workload. According to analysis, the additional documentation, verification processes, and regulatory adherence requirements are expected to create a 10-15% increase in 1040 complexity for 2026. 

But here’s a reason to be optimistic: Many successful firms are proving that when employees are supported, rested, and mentally clear, they perform better, make fewer errors, and feel less tempted to leave their post.    

Technology as a wellness enabler 

Enter technology. Recent breakthroughs in AI automation are both accelerating tax productivity and giving professionals more bandwidth to relax and recover from job-related stress. Here are just some of the ways that tax pros are benefitting: 

• Less manual data entry and workpaper indexing 

• Fewer bottlenecks in the client collaboration process 

• Less verification of extracted OCR data 

• More bandwidth for profitable advisory engagements 
• And most importantly, an improved mental state during peak season 

Shana Ashman
Thomson Reuters Solutions Consultant

What the stats say 

Survey data from the 2025 Corporate Tax Department Technology Report shows that tech’s role in the wellness revolution might even be unfolding in real time: 

• 79% believe AI will have a high or transformational impact on their profession within five years 

• 54% of adopters are already seeing a return on investment from their AI initiatives

• 36% expect to see high or transformational change at their firm this year

These wins transcend operational success. They’re revitalizing an industry that’s spent years wrestling with worsening workload and burnout issues. While staff retention continues to be a top challenge, technology is creating solutions. 

Tax productivity for everyone 

Processing tax returns is a team effort, which means that a healthier workplace culture can’t be achieved unless all parties involved benefit from automation. That’s why Thomson Reuters tax solutions fully integrate to make every step of the 1040 workflow easier. Here’s what that looks like: 

Smoother collaboration for clients

SafeSend eliminates the client communication bottlenecks that often create last-minute scrambles. Instead of chasing clients for missing documents or playing phone tag about questions, tax professionals can securely collect all necessary information upfront through an award-winning online portal. This approach results in faster responses and fewer fire drills. 

Less data entry for preparers

1040SCAN automates data entry on 4-7x as many documents as alternative scan-and-populate products, reducing human error and eliminating endless busy season hours for preparers.  

1040SCANverify takes it a step further and combines that same automation with a human component. Our team of expert verifiers validate all OCR data associated with each return so your team doesn’t have to. This service takes care of most of the tax preparation process for a fraction of what full-preparation services typically charge.   

Is your firm looking for immediate relief during busy season? Ask our experts why 1040SCANverify represents the most cost-effective fusion of software and service. 

Easier oversight for managers and reviewers

Once it receives the extracted data from 1040SCAN, UltraTax CS brings it all together with seamless data sharing and advanced calculation capabilities for reviewers. The software even populates all relevant fields across other tax returns, creating significant time savings through data reuse. 

Simple delivery for admins

When the return is complete, it flexes back to SafeSend for client review and signature. It then automatically transmits the finalized return to the proper tax authority for e-filing. 

Together, these solutions increase tax productivity and reduce manual effort at every workflow stage. When automation is this powerful and well-integrated, preparers, reviewers, admins, and even clients can enjoy a less stressful busy season. 

Achieving wellness one step at a time

A happier, more restful tax practice can’t be achieved overnight. But your team can start its journey toward workplace wellness today, even with busy season around the corner. Here are some steps to consider: 

Automate repetitive tasks: Let technology handle data entry, calculations, and routine compliance tasks 

Encourage micro-wellness practices: Use the time savings for mental health breaks and strategic thinking 

Prioritize mental clarity over long hours: Focus on output quality rather than time invested 

Plan implementation strategically: Use Q4 planning to consider an increased technology budget and weigh that spending with the potential time savings. 

Ready to transform your firm’s culture? Discover more tech-powered workplace culture tips with our on-demand webinar:

On-demand webinar

Enhancing productivity through wellness and technology: Strategies for tax professionals

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