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      Technology and AI are changing how tax functions operate, manage risk and create value for the wider business.

      As organisations explore what these technologies mean in practice, tax leaders are facing important questions about where to focus, how to prioritise investment and how to deliver meaningful results.

      These questions sat at the heart of Make the Leap: KPMG’s Tax Technology & AI Summit 2026, which brought together senior tax, finance and technology leaders to discuss the practical realities of technology adoption in tax. Across the discussions, three themes emerged consistently: the scale of the opportunity ahead, the barriers holding organisations back and the practical actions leaders can take now.

      Chris Rogers
      Chris Rogers

      Partner, Global Compliance and Transformation, Tax & Legal

      KPMG in the UK

      From compliance engine to strategic growth partner

      The Summit made clear that AI and technology are changing what “good” looks like in tax. Automation, data connectivity and intelligent tooling are moving tax away from being a predominantly compliance-driven function towards one that provides insight, foresight and strategic value across the organisation.

      Leaders who are leaning into this change are already seeing benefits: faster decision-making, increased transparency, improved risk management and more time freed up for commercially meaningful work. Crucially, this is not about deploying technology for its own sake.

      The opportunity lies in focusing on where technology genuinely moves the dial - whether that is smarter data foundations, the intelligent use of AI in core processes, or enabling tax teams to spend more time advising the business rather than assembling information. Those who act decisively now will help shape the future of the tax function rather than react to it later.

      The challenge: knowing change is needed, but struggling to move

      While the opportunity is clear, the Summit also surfaced a familiar tension. Most tax leaders recognise the need to transform, yet many organisations are still finding it difficult to make progress at the pace they would like.

      Several common blockers emerged. The pace of technological change can feel overwhelming, particularly alongside regulatory complexity, geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing resource pressures. Many teams are still constrained by fragmented data, legacy systems and operating models built for a pre-AI world.

      There is also a human challenge. Transformation is as much about people, skills and confidence as it is about technology. Leaders spoke openly about hesitancy: waiting for perfect answers, fearing false starts, or struggling to build alignment across tax, finance and technology teams.

      The Summit message was clear: waiting for certainty is no longer a viable strategy. The organisations making progress are not necessarily those with the most advanced plans, but those willing to start, learn and build momentum through action.

      Actionable insight: three steps leaders can take now

      As well as painting a picture of what tax might look like in 2036, the Summit focused on practical actions leaders can apply immediately.

      Leaders should be asking: Which parts of our tax function are most likely to benefit from automation and AI today? Where might we be over-engineering, and where are we under-investing?

      This means prioritising use cases grounded in business outcomes, not technology hype. Whether it is improving data quality, accelerating reporting cycles or enhancing audit readiness, clarity on value is the foundation for momentum.

      A recurring theme was the importance of progress over perfection. Rather than waiting for organisation, wide transformation programmes to land, leaders can create traction through targeted pilots, proofs of concept and controlled experimentation.

      This approach builds confidence, surfaces lessons quickly and helps teams understand what works in practice, not just on paper. Importantly, it also signals a cultural shift: that experimentation is encouraged, learning is valued and action matters.

      Technology alone does not transform a function. The Summit repeatedly highlighted the importance of people - equipping teams with the skills, confidence and support they need to operate effectively in a technology-enabled environment.

      Equally important are connections: across the tax community, within organisations and between tax, finance and IT leaders. Shared challenges require shared solutions. Leaders who actively build networks and learn from peers move faster, avoid common pitfalls and gain confidence in their decisions.

      A leadership moment for tax

      Perhaps the most thought-provoking insight from the Summit was that this is not just a technology shift - it is a leadership moment. AI and technology are forcing conversations about how tax functions are structured, how talent is developed and how success is measured.

      Leaders who embrace this moment are redefining the value of tax within their organisations. Those who hesitate risk allowing change to happen around them rather than through them.

      The message from Make the Leap was not that leaders need all the answers today. It was that they need enough clarity to begin, enough confidence to learn and enough momentum to keep moving forward.

      The organisations making the most progress are not necessarily those investing the most in technology. They are the ones applying it to the right problems, building strong foundations and creating the conditions to scale what works. That is where the opportunity now sits for tax leaders.

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