What accountants miss when prompting AI—and how to correct it

As artificial intelligence tools become more embedded in accounting workflows—from client intake to tax planning to advisory services—many professionals are discovering both the promise and the pitfalls of automation. The biggest pitfall? Assuming that AI will deliver high-quality insights regardless of how it's prompted.

The truth is, AI is only as good as the input it receives. If you feed it vague, biased or incomplete information, you'll get vague, biased or incomplete results. This is the classic "Garbage In, Garbage Out" problem—and it completely undermines the value that accountants can extract from AI, especially when it comes to using these tools for advisory.

Let's unpack what's going wrong, how to fix it, and why the right software makes all the difference.

The prompting blind spot

Accountants are trained to be precise, analytical and compliance driven. Prompting AI requires a different skill set: one that blends clarity, context and creativity. Many professionals fall into one of three common traps:

1. Vagueness: Asking AI to "create a tax planning strategy" without specifying the client's income level, entity type or goals.
2. Bias: Feeding AI assumptions like "this client probably doesn't qualify for R&D credits" before exploring eligibility.

1. Overload: Dumping entire transcripts or spreadsheets into a prompt without guiding the AI on what to extract or prioritize.

These missteps don't just waste time—they can lead to flawed advice, missed opportunities and erosion of client trust.

What good input looks like

To get meaningful output from AI tools, consider these tips:

• Contextual framing: "This client is a single-member LLC in California with $450K in revenue, mostly from online coaching. What deductions should we explore?"
• Clear constraints: "Limit suggestions to strategies that apply to Schedule C filers and exclude retirement planning."
• Defined goals: "I want to help this client reduce taxable income by $30K without triggering audit risk."

When you give AI a well-structured prompt, it can deliver nuanced, relevant and actionable insights—often faster than a human could.

Why accounting-specific prompts matter

Generic AI prompts can produce generic answers, but accounting isn't generic—it's governed by jurisdictional rules, entity structures, industry nuances and client-specific goals. That's why accounting-specific prompts are essential.

For example, asking, "What are the best deductions?" is too broad. Instead, a prompt like "For a Texas-based S-Corp in the med spa industry with $1.2M in gross receipts and 12 employees, what tax-saving strategies should we consider under current IRS guidelines?" gives the AI a better chance to deliver something useful.

In addition, it's important to utilize credible sources to fuel your AI prompts when you're looking for data, especially that related to tax and compliance information. Instructing your AI engine to leverage sources such as IRS.gov goes a long way, but all AI-generated information should be cross-checked by professionals.

According to a recent Accounting Insights article, firms that integrate AI into financial reporting workflows—particularly through structured prompting—report up to 30% faster turnaround on routine tasks like reconciliations and audit prep. This is attributed to clearer classification and recognition of gains/losses when AI is trained on firm-specific data.

These findings suggest that firms embracing prompting frameworks—especially those built around accounting-specific use cases—are not just automating tasks but elevating the quality and speed of their decision-making. Some examples of the benefits include:

• Faster turnaround on technical research and compliance questions.
• More accurate client deliverables with fewer revisions.
• Better use of AI in advisory scenarios, from cash flow modeling to entity restructuring.

Even the Big Four are investing heavily in prompt engineering as a core competency. However, to be successful in the future as a strategic advisor to your clients, leveraging AI is just one part of the equation, the other two are to use the right tools, the right way. It's critical to not just adopt AI without understanding how to use it effectively within the context of your firm. Start with selecting the right tools, then use them with the right prompting, and close the loop with your human insights. When this is done to meet the strategic goals of your firm in the service of your clients, you can benefit from AI that is driven with precision and purpose.