Tax season can be challenging and burdensome, and for homeowners, keeping up to date with housing tax rules can make it even more difficult.
The Internal Revenue Service opened the tax filing season on Jan. 26, and the deadline for filing (without an extension) is April 15. Most people will wait as long as possible to file.
In fact, IPX1031’s Annual Tax Procrastinators report found that a whopping 29% of Americans will delay filing their taxes this year.
But putting your taxes off could be keeping valuable funds out of your pocket. As of Feb. 6, 2026, tax refunds averaged $2,290, up nearly 11% from the same time last year.
“Average refund amounts are strong,” the IRS said in a statement last week.
If the task seems daunting, there are ways that artificial intelligence can help.
In fact, the IPX report found that 21% say they plan to use AI to help file their taxes, while an eye-popping 46% of Americans “trust AI to give accurate tax guidance or information,” according to the report.
While turning to AI has become common for many individuals to find quick answers to daily problems or to help solve tasks more efficiently, when it comes to taxes, experts warn that this should be approached with caution.
“AI is best used as a tax-season organizer and translator, great for checklists and explanations, but it shouldn’t be the final authority on eligibility, calculations, or filing positions. Always verify with IRS guidance, your forms, and reputable tax software or a professional,” says Mark Gallegos, partner at accounting and consulting firm Porter Brown.
How can homeowners responsibly use AI tools during tax season?
Brian Zink, CEO of No Upfront Tax Relief, says that AI can be a support tool but not a filing replacement, with ChatGPT and Gemini among the better-known AI platforms.
“It can help with understanding terminology, and clarifying deduction rules are just a couple of the pros. Problems start when it becomes a substitute for professional judgment,” Zink says.
There is also some tax preparation software with built-in AI support, such as H&R Block and TurboTax, which can alleviate both the cost and the time spent on filing.
H&R Block’s AI Tax Assist, for instance, is powered by the latest GenAI capabilities and informed by human intelligence from H&R Block’s world-class team of experts at The Tax Institute,” according to the company’s website.
As for TurboTax, its Intuit Assist “is an AI-powered capability that provides personalized, intelligent recommendations to help you make smart financial decisions with less work and complete confidence.”
Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and tax expert at TurboTax, says that homeowners should prioritize using an AI option from a reputable source that uses proprietary AI with human expertise.
“Our new agentic AI minimizes manual effort across taxes and money management, from refund optimization to debt payoff plans,” she says. “For instance, TurboTax AI now handles over 90% of tax-form entry, including complex 1040s and 1099s, by pulling data directly from financial institutions, which saved Americans 6 million hours last tax season. This year, advanced automation makes the process even faster, easier, and more accurate.”
How AI can help homeowners understand deductions and credits
AI tools can be helpful for homeowners seeking to understand mortgage interest, property taxes, home office deductions, or energy-efficient upgrades.
Jay Zigmont, CFP, founder of Childfree Trust, says that AI can track and organize any of your housing-related tax documents, help you understand deduction amounts, and search for applicable credits.
“For example, with Gemini, if you create a folder in your Google Drive with all of your receipts for your home, it can analyze them to look for potential tax savings. Remember that most people are taking the standard deduction now, so there is a good chance that you won’t optimize things like your mortgage insurance,” he says.
“It may help homeowners understand if a specific improvement done to their home may have some tax benefits or consequences, what kinds of deductions are available, and identify what documents are needed for filing taxes,” adds Mark Reyes, CFP, founder and financial planner at Casita Financial Planning.
However, Reyes warns that while this can be an effective way to round up your initial efforts toward your taxes, it shouldn’t substitute for tax advice.
“AI is not a tax adviser and can make mistakes; nor does it know your detailed financial situation. This tool should only be used as an initial step to make sure you are prepared to talk to your tax adviser,” he says.
Where AI can help, and where homeowners should be cautious
Stephen Kates, CFP, financial analyst at Bankrate, says that the first step in minimizing taxes is understanding what you are, or could become, eligible for—and doing that as soon as possible.
“Effective tax planning requires a proactive approach that anticipates opportunities in future years. If you wait until the month before the filing deadline to ask an AI tool how to minimize your taxes, there is very little that can be done,” he says.
For example, Kates says that energy-efficient home improvements are subject to annual limits and caps for specific items. If your total upgrades exceed those limits in a given year, the excess credits generally cannot be carried forward
“Planning the timing of those improvements can make a meaningful difference in the tax benefits you ultimately receive,” Kates explains.
Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert at Hippo Insurance, says that the company’s 2026 Housepower Report found that homeowners are using AI to check whether they’re paying a fair price (54%); compare different insurance providers and policies (48%); explore additional coverage options they should consider (48%); and better understand their current policy (40%).
Another way AI can be very useful when it comes to taxes is to translate complex laws into simple language.
“Most homeowners aren’t confused because they’re careless; they’re confused because the rules around mortgage interest, property taxes, home offices, and energy credits are scattered and hard to follow,” says Blake O’Shaughnessy, co-founder of real estate platform Ownli. “It can also help people review their expenses and say, ‘These are the items you might want to look into further,’ which is often where value gets missed.”
AI can also be a valuable tool for creating a step-by-step plan to file an accurate and complete tax return and for beginning next year’s tax planning, according to Kates.
“Asking AI to help analyze your current filing with an eye on improving next year’s options can be one of the smartest ways to use AI for tax planning. Creating a simple road map for the rest of the year may increase savings or reduce anxiety during the next filing season,” he says.
Still, homeowners should proceed with caution when using AI.
Zigmont advises that, before you upload any documents into AI for analysis, be sure to redact your Social Security number and private information.
“Tax filing season is the Super Bowl for fraud,” Kates adds. “Nearly everyone is required to file each year, which creates a target-rich environment of people who may feel uncertain about the process. The updated tax rules from last year’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act make it even easier for bad actors to prey on those who are unfamiliar with the changes.”
Another concern is around tax regulations being up to date and in compliance.
“Many AI models are trained on a snapshot of the Internet, including IRS regulations, that may be a year or more old,” Zigmont points out.
Finally, O’Shaughnessy reminds homeowners that AI doesn’t know your full financial picture and doesn’t take responsibility with the IRS if something is wrong.
“If you rely on it too heavily and make a mistake, you’re still the one accountable. It reduces stress and confusion, but it doesn’t replace human judgment,” he said.