CPA Pilot

A one-sentence summary

CPA Pilot is an AI-based tax work platform designed for CPA professionals, certified tax agents, and tax firms in the United States; it can read tax forms and financial PDF files, and assist with tax return review, research, client communication, forecasting, and tax planning.

Tool Introduction

CPA Pilot turns common tax tasks into predefined workflows, eliminating the need for users to create complex procedures on their own. It operates via a web interface, allowing users to choose specific workflows or to ask tax-related questions directly.

The platform is designed to serve as a tool for professionals to conduct research and draft documents, rather than providing services for automatic tax filing or legal advice. The official terms require that all outputs generated by the AI be reviewed by certified professionals, and the user remains responsible for making the final decisions and delivering the results to the client.

Main functions

Tax return review

Users upload the completed personal or corporate tax forms, and the system checks for consistency across different forms, any unusual changes, possible missed deductions and credits, as well as the status of the filings and any associated risks. The results are presented in order of severity, to facilitate targeted handling by those responsible for review.

Tax form customer summary

The platform can transform complex tax forms into summaries that are easy for customers to understand, which can be used for communication after the submission is completed or for annual reviews. However, the amounts indicated in these summaries, the reasons for any changes, and the recommendations still need to be verified against the final signed version.

List of customer information

A more targeted list of items to collect should be prepared based on the tax forms from the previous year, rather than sending the same template to all customers. Staff members should add any new requirements for the current year as well as those specified by the state.

Customer Email Assistant

CPA Pilot can draft explanations, follow-up questions, and subsequent emails based on the issues and available materials. Before sending, it is necessary to check the tone, the recipient, the amount involved, the deadline, as well as any sensitive information that cannot be disclosed via regular email.

Tax research

Research assistants are used to organize information related to federal and state taxes, and to present analyses and references in a structured manner. Tax laws change from time to time, so users must consult the current authoritative sources to determine the effective dates, scope of application, and any exceptions.

IRS Notice Analysis

After uploading the IRS notice, the system can summarize the issues, deadlines, and any materials that may be required as a response. Any deadlines, payments, or procedural rights must be verified directly by a professional against the original notice.

Tax forecasting and planning

The platform can carry out estimations, scenario comparisons, and year-end planning, and it can generate materials for customer discussions. Predictions depend on the input assumptions; a single scenario should not be regarded as the definitive result.

Entity selection analysis

The tool allows for comparing the tax implications and relevant considerations of different corporate structures, thereby helping to establish a framework for discussion. The choice of entity also involves legal, wage, state tax, and operational factors, and it cannot be determined solely through AI-based comparisons.

Tax planning report

The system organizes research, forecasts, and recommendations into customer-oriented plan reports. The reports must specify the assumptions, the applicable year, the implementation conditions, and any matters that require the involvement of other professionals.

Assistance for importing tax software

CPA Pilot can help map income statements, bank export data, and accounting information to the fields or processes of tools such as Drake, Lacerte, UltraTax, ProSeries, ProConnect, and QuickBooks Online. It is not a native plugin that enables automatic synchronization with tax software.

Content and social calendar

The platform can also generate interpretations of tax laws, educational materials for clients, briefings for accounting firms, and plans for social media content. When releasing such material to the public, it is necessary to avoid giving advice specific to individual cases, to verify the legal status of matters, and to comply with rules regarding professional advertising.

Workflow Overview

Supported files and usage methods

Standard usage process

1. Log in to the web application and prepare the authorized PDF materials for the current client or task.
2. Select tax form review, research, notification analysis, or other predefined workflows.
3. Upload the necessary files and verify that the local anonymization as well as the upload results comply with the firm’s policies.
4. Fill in the facts, tax year, state, entity, and the specific questions that need to be answered.
5. Obtain structured output, and by asking further questions fill in the assumptions, evidence, and uncertainties.
6. View the original tax forms, notices, and authoritative legal sources directly, and verify the details one by one.
7. It is only after being approved by qualified professionals that it is included in the working papers or client communications.
8. Export the results that need to be retained, and carry out archiving and deletion in accordance with the firm’s policies.

Tax form review tutorial

1. Export a PDF of the final or near-final version to be reviewed from the tax software.
2. Attach the necessary supporting documents, but do not upload any materials that are not related to this review.
3. Select the tax filing review workflow and specify the form type, tax year, and state.
4. Let the system distinguish between high-severity errors, routine items for review, and items for planned observation.
5. For each prompt, return to the tax form and verify each calculation and document individually.
6. Run the critical checks again after making the corrections, and record the solutions adopted as well as the person who performed the review.
7. Complete the traditional office review process before signing and submitting.

Tax Research Tutorial

1. Clearly state the customer details, tax year, entity, state, and the specific dispute.
2. The system is required to list separately the rules, applicable analyses, exceptions, and missing facts.
3. Please indicate the codes, regulations, announcements, or state-level documents that need to be checked.
4. Open the current original authoritative source to verify the citations, dates, and context.
5. Document the parts that AI cannot resolve or where conflicts exist, and escalate them to the responsible professional.
6. Add manual analysis and conclusions to create a reviewable research memorandum.

Price of individual packages

All four packages include the entire AI tax workflow; the differences lie mainly in the volume of messages and the level of support provided. Although Unlimited is labeled as offering unlimited messages, it is intended for use by only 1 user on 3 devices, and account sharing is not allowed.

Annual message rules assignment

The pricing page uses inconsistent wording regarding the carryover of amounts for certain monthly payment plans, while at the same time emphasizing that the annual payment amount is credited in advance. It is necessary to consult support before making a purchase to find out whether unused amounts from monthly payments are carried over and what the deadline for such carryover is.

Free trial

• All public personal plans come with a 7-day trial period.
• The trial version includes 20 AI messages, rather than the full monthly quota available in the regular plan.
• To start the trial, you need to register a credit card.
• The official website states that cancellation is possible at any time, but it must be done before the end of the trial period.
• During the trial period, only data that has been authorized by the client and complies with the firm’s policies should be uploaded.

Cancellation and refund policies

A monthly subscription can be canceled at any time through the account settings; access remains valid until the end of the current billing period. There is no refund for a completed monthly cycle, nor is any compensation provided for unused time.

The pricing page on the official website states that a refund can be granted on a pro-rata basis within 30 days of starting an annual subscription, but the official terms updated in May 2026 only allow for a refund within 7 days after the initial purchase of an annual subscription. In case of any discrepancy between these two statements, the terms outlined in the contract and any written confirmation provided shall prevail.

Team package

CPA Pilot offers a team-based pricing option based on the number of members, providing centralized billing and team access; larger teams enjoy automatic discounts. For the annual subscription plan, Team 20 costs $299 per member per year, with even lower prices for larger teams.

The usage quota for a team is based on the message limit per member; it is not an unlimited account that can be shared among multiple people. Firms should consider factors such as the number of seats, the total amount of messages, management permissions, and data isolation before deciding between individual or team solutions.

CPA Pilot Studio

Studio is a separate office automation platform that connects various tasks such as extracting data from tax forms, collecting customer information, mapping fields in tax software, and planning, into custom workflows. It is not the regular chatting feature included in the four-tier personal messaging package.

Studio offers both DIY and turnkey construction options, with a 14-day trial period. Access rights, specific prices, the scope of integration, and automation capabilities require separate application and confirmation.

Data processing and third-party models

CPA Pilot handles account, payment, usage, and device data, as well as tax documents, customer information, alerts, and generated results uploaded by users. Payments are processed by Stripe, and the platform also makes use of analysis tools, cloud hosting services, and third-party large language model providers.

The terms specify that the prompts and uploaded content may be sent to third-party model providers for processing, and state that the contract prohibits such providers from using customer data to train models. Users still need to ensure that their jurisdiction, clients, and applicable laws permit such processing.

Privacy and data retention

The privacy policy states that tax documents and customer data uploaded are used solely for the provision of services; personal data is not sold, nor is it used to train AI models. Tax professionals remain responsible for obtaining customer consent and fulfilling their professional obligations regarding confidentiality.

Safety measures

• The client anonymizes the customer identification information locally before transmission.
• TLS encryption is used for the transmission process, while AES-256 encryption is used for storing data.
• The internal system employs role-based access control, audit logs, and security reviews.
• Third-party model suppliers are subject to contractual restrictions that prohibit them from using customer data for training.
• The firm can be contacted to obtain additional security information or data processing appendices.
• For more information on enterprise agreements, compliance documents, and single sign-on capabilities, please feel free to ask.

The SOC 2 documentation must be accurate.

The official privacy and security page relies on \"SOC 2-aligned practices\", meaning it is designed in accordance with those practices; however, no explicit statement is provided in the public text confirming that SOC 2 Type II certification has been obtained. The documentation should not use the term \"aligned\" to indicate that certification has been achieved.

When making purchases, companies should request current reports, the scope of the audit, the services covered, any exceptions, and the expiration date, rather than relying solely on marketing badges or the simplified information provided on the Studio page.

U.S. tax compliance responsibilities

The terms of service require that necessary consent and authorization be obtained before uploading a customer’s tax information, including the requirements set out in Section 7216 of the applicable U.S. tax laws. The platform is not a substitute for obtaining such customer consent.

• Establish written procedures for authorizing customer data usage, third-party services, and cross-border data processing.
• Only authorized personnel are allowed to access the account and its outputs.
• Retain audit records of AI-assisted processes, manual verification, and final approval.
• Do not allow AI to prepare, sign, or submit tax forms that have not been reviewed by a professional.
• The results shall be used in accordance with Circular 230, state CPA regulations, and the firm’s policies.
• In cases involving legal advice, complex disputes, or high-risk transactions, the matter is escalated to qualified experts.

Tax software and integration boundaries

API, SDK, and open-source status

The core CPA Pilot is currently available via a web interface and file upload; according to the official documentation, it can be used without the need to configure any API or tax software plugins. No general API, official SDK, or detailed information regarding pricing for interfaces is available for ordinary developers.

Nor was any complete version of the product’s GitHub source code, as confirmed on the official website, or an open-source license found. CPA Pilot is a closed-source commercial service, and the automation capabilities of Studio cannot be considered open-source or suitable for self-hosting.

Product advantages

• Predefined workflows are provided for real tax tasks, reducing the costs associated with prompt design.
• Multiple PDF uploads are supported, allowing the output to be based on the customer’s own materials rather than on general assumptions.
• It covers review, research, notification, forecasting, planning, and customer communication.
• The prices and message volume for the four tiers of individual plans are publicly available; the lowest cost is 29 dollars per month.
• Clearly announce the commitments regarding 90-day document retention, encryption, and no training.
• Emphasis is placed on professional judgment and manual review, with a relatively restrained product positioning.
• There are also team packages and Studios to enable firms to expand their usage.

Usage restrictions and precautions

• AI-generated tax information may contain errors, omissions, or reference outdated rules; it cannot be relied on directly.
• It is primarily intended for U.S. tax professionals and is not a universal tool for tax systems around the world.
• The current primary format for uploading is PDF; it is recommended to export tables and other types of documents first.
• The individual plan is charged based on the number of AI messages; the amount of messages required for complex tasks needs to be determined through actual testing.
• A free trial requires a credit card, and it is necessary to proactively confirm cancellation before it ends.
• The pricing page and the official terms differ regarding the deadline for refunds for annual payments.
• Being SOC 2-aligned does not mean that a public certification of completion of a SOC 2 Type II audit has been obtained.
• Before uploading customer information, it is still necessary to comply with Section 7216, state regulations, and the firm’s policies.
• The core product is not open source, nor are there any public developer APIs available.

Which users are it suitable for

• CPAs and enrolled tax agents who handle individual and corporate taxation in the United States.
• Tax firms that need to introduce a second layer of review during the tax season.
• Consultants who frequently study IRS notices, entity selection, and annual planning.
• Teams that wish to quickly generate customer summaries, lists, and draft emails.
• Willing to establish professional organizations for manual verification, data authorization, and audit tracking.

It’s not very suitable for which situations

• Individuals who lack expertise in taxation but wish to obtain ready-to-use tax filing conclusions directly.
• It mainly deals with tax systems outside the United States that require local regulatory rules.
• Firms that cannot obtain authorization to upload customer data or whose use of third-party models is prohibited.
• Workflows that require AI to automatically sign, submit documents, or make decisions on behalf of certified personnel.
• Organizations that must use a fully open-source, locally hosted tax modeling solution.

Basic information

Recommendation score

The recommendation score is 4.3 out of 5. CPA Pilot offers comprehensive tax workflows, messaging packages, data retention options, and guidelines regarding professional responsibilities; it is suitable for American tax teams that already have well-established review processes in place.

It cannot replace judgment made by qualified professionals, and customer data is processed by cloud services and third-party models. Before making a purchase, it is necessary to address issues related to authorization, SOC 2 certifications, message transmission costs, refund complications, and the firm’s archiving policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CPA Pilot a tax filing software?

It is not a traditional tax filing software; it is used for reviewing tax forms, conducting research, creating summaries, planning, and communicating. The actual tax filing is still carried out using specialized tax software along with manual procedures.

How much is the lowest package?

CPA Pilot 20 costs $29 per month and includes 20 AI messages as well as all workflows.

Is a credit card required for the free trial?

It is necessary. The trial period lasts 7 days and includes 20 messages; it is recommended to note the end time before starting.

Can Unlimited be shared among multiple people?

No, Unlimited allows only 1 user and 3 devices; the terms prohibit account sharing. Businesses with multiple people should use the Team plan.

Which files are supported?

PDF is currently fully supported, and it is possible to upload multiple files at once. It is recommended to export tables and other formats as PDF first.

Will the model be trained using customer data?

Official statements state that customer documents, hints, or outputs will not be used to train AI models, and contractual restrictions are imposed on third-party model providers. The firm still needs to carry out its own vendor assessments.

How long are the data stored?

Uploaded files and the resulting outputs are retained for 90 days, while account data is usually kept for an additional 30 days after the account is canceled. Working drafts that need to be preserved over a long period should be archived in a timely manner.

Has CPA Pilot passed SOC 2?

The Privacy and Security page states that the organization follows SOC 2-aligned practices, but it does not provide any explicit proof that Type II certification has been obtained. Companies should request the current audit documents.

Can an annual payment be refunded?

The official terms state that a refund can be requested within 7 days after the first purchase of an annual subscription, while the pricing page mentions a proportional refund for the first 30 days; these two provisions are contradictory, and written confirmation should be obtained before making the purchase.

Are APIs provided?

No general APIs or SDKs available for ordinary developers have been found. The core products can be used by uploading files via web pages and PDFs, while Studio requires a separate application to be submitted.

Is CPA Pilot open source?

It is not open source; no complete source code repository or open source license confirmed on the official website has been found.

Summary

CPA Pilot integrates the common tasks of review, research, notification, forecasting, planning, and communication that U.S. tax professionals carry out into an AI-driven PDF workspace, offering individual plans priced from $29 to $199 per month.

It should serve as a tool to assist in drafting and reviewing tasks, under the control of professionals. Before actual use, it is necessary to verify customer authorization, third-party model processing, security measures, message quotas, and the responsibilities related to manual review.