The AI Agent That Can Do A Partnership Tax Return
The Accounting Podcast
Anthropic COBOL Claim Shakes IBM
David explains Anthropic teaching models COBOL, IBM's market reaction, and legacy COBOL use in systems like the IRS.
Can an AI prep a partnership return on its own? Blake and David dig into Basis’s $100M unicorn claim, Intuit’s OpenAI/Anthropic tie-ups and Claude Cowork, and what it means for firms. They also cover how to capitalize on tariff refund lawsuits, the Senate’s push to regulate tax preparers, and the SEC weighing twice-a-year reporting—plus a quick warning about the fake “IRS locker” scam. You’ll learn where AI helps now, what to watch, and how to advise clients.
Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc
Chapters
- (00:00) - Welcome and Headlines
- (01:51) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing
- (03:10) - Tariffs Legal Fallout
- (05:50) - Refund Lawsuit Wave
- (09:02) - Basis AI Unicorn
- (15:23) - Intuit Earnings AI Blitz
- (25:59) - Claude Cowork Automation
- (32:16) - Managing Agents at Work
- (34:21) - AI PR Pay Boom
- (36:46) - AI Agents for Accounting
- (37:39) - SaaS Giants vs AI
- (39:01) - Finance Grade AI Trust
- (41:22) - IBM COBOL Shockwave
- (43:03) - Audit Enforcement Drop
- (44:34) - Regulating Tax Preparers
- (45:40) - Twice a Year Reporting
- (48:36) - Prediction Market Tax Bet
- (50:43) - Washington CPA Outsourcing
- (54:37) - IRS Onboarding Fumbles
- (55:32) - Crypto Fat Finger Disaster
- (01:00:01) - IRS Locker Scam Warning
- (01:02:13) - Livestream Q&A Wrap
- (01:06:19) - Book and Earmark Outro
Show Notes
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump's Sweeping Tariffs
Trump's New Tariffs Under Section 122 Are Probably Also Illegal
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/01/business/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-section-122
1,800+ Companies Suing for $130 Billion in Tariff Refunds
AI-for-Accounting Startup Basis Hits $1.15 Billion Valuation
Intuit and Anthropic Partner to Bring Custom AI Agents to Consumers and Businesses
Intuit Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
IBM Shares Plunge as Anthropic Touts COBOL Modernization Efforts
AI Won't Replace Accounting Platforms — It Will Make Them More Important
https://diginomica.com/ai-wont-replace-accounting-platforms-it-will-make-them-more-important
Audit Enforcement Plummeted Last Year
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/audit-enforcement-plummeted-last-year
Senate Finance Committee Proposes to Regulate Tax Preparers, Improve IRS Administration
SEC to Fast-Track Proposal for Semi-Annual Public Company Reporting
Tax Nerd Bets Life Savings Against DOGE on Kalshi — and Wins
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/an-accountant-won-a-big-jackpot-on-kalshi-by-betting-against-doge/
Should We Be Concerned That More Than Half of New CPA Licenses in Washington State Went to International Candidates?
IRS Failed to Equip New Hires in 2024
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-failed-to-equip-new-hires-in-2024
South Korean Crypto Exchange Bithumb Accidentally Gives Away $40+ Billion in Bitcoin
Michigan Man Loses $1 Million in IRS Impersonation Scam
https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/23/michigan-man-loses-1-million-in-irs-scam/178591/
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Get in Touch
Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcas...
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