While 18 to 24-year-olds lead in experimenting with AI, adults ages 35 to 44 show the highest levels of trust and willingness to share sensitive data with AI systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Claude.
These findings, from new survey research from Qlik, suggest that mid-career professionals may be emerging as AI’s most active “power users” during tax season, even as broader concerns about data privacy continue to shape adoption. At the same time, 4 in 10 Americans (40%) say they would never enter personal or financial information into an AI tool.
As general-purpose AI tools become part of everyday decision-making, tax season is emerging as a real-world test of how consumers use AI for financial support. The survey shows interest is rising, with usage increasing year-over-year across most generations. Adoption is led by 18 to 24-year-olds, jumping from 17% last tax season to 23% this year. But most Americans still draw a hard line on sensitive data.
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“What’s striking is not that Gen Z is experimenting, it’s that mid-career adults are the ones most willing to share sensitive tax data with AI,” said Mike Capone, CEO at Qlik. “That tells you where practical adoption is forming: people who are busy, financially active, and looking for faster decisions, but only if they feel in control. If AI is going to move from ‘interesting’ to ‘indispensable,’ it needs auditability, clear permissions, and data you can trace, because in high-stakes moments like taxes, confidence is the product.”
Key findings:
- AI use is real but still limited overall: Among Americans required to file a tax return this year, 11% say they used or plan to use AI tools for tax help. Usage is highest among 18 to 24-year-olds (23%), compared with 2% among those ages 55+ (about 11 times lower).
- Tax software remains the default: Tax software platforms (TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct) remain the dominant method for filing, used by 44% of filers overall and half of adults ages 35 to 44 (50%).
- AI is positioned as a digital assistant to reduce uncertainty: Filers cite AI’s value in identifying deductions or credits (26%), reviewing completed returns for errors or missing information (25%), answering general tax questions (25%), and helping to fill out sections of a return (23%). At the same time, one in four respondents (25%) say they do not believe AI could be useful for their taxes at all.
- Privacy outranks hallucinations as the primary adoption barrier: When asked why they do not trust AI to prepare or review taxes, 48% cite data exposure concerns (stored/ leaked/ hacked, discomfort inputting sensitive identity or income data, or foreign access), compared with 16% citing accuracy or explainability concerns (hallucinations or not understanding how AI reaches answers).
- Mid-career adults are the most willing to share sensitive data: Adults ages 35 to 44 show the highest willingness to input sensitive information into AI for tax-related help, including income details such as W-2s or 1099s (36%), employer or client information (31%), Social Security numbers (26%), and investment or crypto details (24%).
- A clear gender divide emerges: Men are nearly twice as likely as women to say they used or plan to use AI for tax help (14% vs 7%). Women are also far more likely to say they would never enter personal or financial information into AI tools (50% vs 29% for men).
The findings suggest AI’s near-term role in tax season is best described as a layered approach: taxpayers rely on a combination of structured tax software and professional support when needed, while selectively using AI for guidance and review. As AI becomes more embedded in decision-making, improving trust, transparency, and data control will be critical to broader adoption.
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mary mrazo March 12 2026 at 6:20 am
Interesting findings. The fact that mid-career professionals are the most willing to use AI for financial tasks makes sense they’re usually the ones dealing with the most complex workflows and time pressure. At the same time, the concern about sharing sensitive data is very real, especially in accounting and tax environments. That’s why transparency, audit trails, and clear data controls are becoming critical in AI-enabled finance tools. We’re starting to see accounting platforms like Runeleven building automation around those ideas while still keeping financial data traceable for firms managing multiple clients or entities. It will be interesting to see how trust evolves as adoption grows.