Ashley Francis, CPA, Author at Think Outside the Tax Box

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Ashley Francis, CPA

Ashley Francis is a distinguished CPA specializing in ultra high-net worth taxation, trusts, and estates. With an educational foundation from Gonzaga and Golden Gate University, and an extensive background that includes roles at a hedge fund and in the Big 4, Ashley has built a formidable career. Late last year, she ventured into the domain of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and BingChat and has been sharing her insights ever since. Her ability to simplify complex tax subjects and provide practical applications in AI makes her an invaluable resource. Outside the professional arena, Ashley is dedicated to family and continual learning.

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Not Another ChatGPT Article…

Yes, another ChatGPT article. Or GenAI, really. Okay, I saw you roll your eyes. Well, not “saw” per se, but I felt it allllll the way from over here.

But honestly, this is for your benefit, not mine! I’ve already figured out a ton of ways to use it to make my life easier. Yes, that’s right, it’s made my LIFE easier, not just work. I’m happy to share a little bit about it if you’re interested.

Also, before you say (again), “ChatGPT can’t do tax returns or tax research. It’s a useless piece of technology,” – I get it! So much of what we focus on in our practice is the actual work parts. But we are far more than just tax compliance. Or at least we want to be.
Okay, think about it this way – why did you become a tax practitioner? Was it because you wanted to help people? Or was it because you thought, “Oh boy, I sure love to just crank out tax returns for 80 hours a week, three months a year!” I’m guessing it was the former! And I don’t know about YOUR tax practice, but mine has gotten far more complicated in the last… 20 years?

Let’s think about all of the changes that have happened in just the last five years? (Okay, yes, that’s cheating, but I’m going to do it anyway). We’ve had TCJA, SECURE, CARES, SECURE 2.0, and probably half a dozen more, in addition to new regulations, case law, IRS pronouncements, state tax law changes, etc. And that’s JUST with the tax law.

In your practice, consider all of the things that have changed and gotten more complicated. Hybrid and remote work, finding employees, ever-expanding technology stack, one of those fancy new espresso machines with too many buttons, going paperless but still having at least five clients that mail you their documents, trying to determine a niche to offset the additional complexity, figuring out how to market to that niche…

And on and on and on. So, my question would be – why WOULDN’T you want to use tools like ChatGPT to offload some of the work? GenAI came along just in time to address a lot of these issues. And I get it, it’s hard to see that the pot is boiling when you’re the frog in the soup, but let me tell you – the pot is boiling. Let’s get you out of there!

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“AI Inside” – What Does that Even Mean?

Remember back in the day when having your tax and accounting software in the “Cloud” was the newest, coolest thing? Even if it took us 10 years to realize that the “cloud” just meant someone’s server somewhere else? Similarly, have you noticed that our tax and accounting products have a sprinkling of AI now? And if they don’t, they’re talking about how they’ll be AI-ing soon? (And if they’re not talking about it, do we even want them in our toolbox?) Let’s chat about what it means to have “AI Inside”, especially with the rise of tools like ChatGPT and Bard.

The “AI Inside” label is becoming ubiquitous but can mean many things, so let’s discuss. I’d hate for you to get excited about an AI feature only to discover that you can access it via one of the widely available Generative AI (GenAI) tools (ChatGPT, BingChat, Bard, Claude, etc.). While this new technology has fundamentally shifted everything, what does it mean for us as tax professionals?

On this journey of exploring what “AI Inside” really means, we’re going to discuss what’s going on under the hood. We’ll also dive into why creating a fully functional “TaxGPT” is challenging right now. (Notice I said “right now”). Finally, we can look at what “AI Inside” tools would be handy, even if you CAN get that functionality out of the regular ol’ GenAI applications. In the end, you’ll know whether to be impressed or pass. And, even more importantly, you’ll know whether to spend the extra money on those tools.

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CURRENT EDITION

Summertime Marketing in Your Tax & Accounting Firm

Tax season is prosperous, summer is dry until extension season. Do you find yourself in that cycle? Clients are “easy” to get during tax season when taxes are top of mind. Then the direct deposits go dry by June, and you are looking for what’s next. Stop the search, you don’t have to add another service. You need better marketing to highlight the service that you offer and specialize in. This will allow you to have a predictable client pipeline. You can do tax preparation, planning, and or representation all year long.

Observations on the House-Passed OBBB

This article focuses on the OBBB from the House offering a variety of observations to help understand the range of changes, relevance to compliance and planning, process considerations and some unexpected provisions. While the final OBBB will not include all of the House provisions or will modify some of them, there are lessons to learn to understand the tax legislation process and results now and in the future.

Client Retention as a Prospecting Strategy: Turning Current Clients into Referral Sources

In the competitive accounting world, where trust and reliability are paramount, client retention is not just a success metric—it’s a vital strategy for sustainable growth. For Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), accountants, and bookkeepers, maintaining a solid relationship with existing clients can unlock new business opportunities, turning satisfied clients into powerful referral sources.

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  • 2025 Spring Fling Webinar Event

    As we prepared our 4th Annual Summer Education Series, our friends at Sandy Bay challenged us to go bigger and do even more live events than we originally planned. So, we did! We are proud to present Think Outside the Tax Box's first ever “Spring Fling” live webinar event. As a monthly or annual subscriber, this webinar is 100% exclusive, and free to you! Every webinar comes with free continuing education credits for those who qualify! Keep reading for more details...

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    2025 Summer Education Series Event Calendar

    We are thrilled to bring you the 2025 Summer Education Series, sponsored by Vistia! All summer long we will be bringing our loyal subscribers monthly webinars featuring some of the brightest minds in tax. Each webinar will feature our usual blend of high-quality education and entertainment and include continuing education credits for those who qualify. All of this is included in your regular subscription! Continue reading to see what we have in store...

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    TAX COURT ROUNDUP – May 2025

    Once again, Tax Court provides slices of life as well as hyper-technical drilldowns into convoluted legal conundrums. To any who say that tax law is dull, I refer them to the annals of 400 Second Street, NW, where anything goes.

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    The Rise of Post-Cognitive Tax Accounting: Embracing a New Frontier in 2027 (or Sooner!)

    The year is 2027, and the landscape of tax accounting has undergone a dramatic transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has automated many traditional tasks once considered the bedrock of the profession. Yet, contrary to fears of widespread job losses among tax preparers, this technological revolution has ushered in a new era – Post-Cognitive Tax Accounting. This paradigm shift is redefining the role of tax professionals, opening opportunities to explore uncharted territories that leverage human intuition, creativity, and strategic insight.

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    How to Help Your Clients Maximize College Financial Aid

    College tuition continues to climb, and for many families, financial aid can make or break their ability to afford their child’s higher education dreams. What most don’t realize is that their tax return — filed long before students even begin applying for college — plays a major role in determining how much financial aid they’ll receive. This is where you come in. Tax professionals and financial planners are uniquely positioned to help clients qualify for more college financial aid. But only if you know what to look for.

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    Freelancer Deductions: What You Might Be Missing and What You Need to Remember

    Even savvy freelancers often miss deductions that could significantly reduce tax liability. The IRS offers legitimate ways for freelancers to deduct business-related costs, but it’s not always obvious which expenses qualify and which ones cross the line into nondeductible territory. This confusion is made worse when we see some of the terrible advice from so-called “experts” on social media. In this article, we’ll explore the most commonly missed deductions for freelancers, highlight real-world examples, and review what tax professionals need to keep in mind when advising these clients.

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    Client Alert

    What You Need to Know About the Proposed Trump Savings Accounts

    Tucked inside the narrowly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending package, is a provision that’s drawing media attention: the creation of a new tax-deferred investment account called a Trump Account. A proposed $1,000 “baby bonus” tied to the account only adds to the intrigue. While the reconciliation bill primarily focuses on extending the 2017 tax cuts and reshuffling federal spending priorities, this unexpected addition could offer new planning opportunities for taxpayers.

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    The Rise of Post-Cognitive Tax: Unlocking Enterprise Potential: How Post-Cognitive Accountants Transform Business Tax Forms into Strategic Masterpieces

    In the transformative landscape of 2027, the role of the accountant has transcended traditional boundaries. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) shouldering the burden of routine calculations and compliance checks, the Post-Cognitive Accountant emerges as a strategic visionary. No longer confined to the mechanics of number crunching, these professionals reimagine business tax forms—such as the Form 1120 for corporations—into dynamic portals that unlock untapped enterprise potential. Let's embark on an exploratory journey through a corporate tax return, revealing how each line item becomes a gateway to innovation, growth, and holistic success.

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