San Francisco, CA, Jun 12, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — As businesses and individuals increasingly adopt automation, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based accounting platforms, tax compliance is becoming faster and more efficient. However, according to Elizabeth Shwiff, founding and managing partner of Shwiff, Levy & Polo, LLP, technology alone cannot replace the judgment, experience, and strategic thinking required to navigate today’s increasingly complex tax environment.
Tax regulations continue to evolve at a rapid pace. Businesses face growing compliance obligations across multiple jurisdictions, changing reporting requirements, and heightened scrutiny from regulatory agencies. While software can automate calculations and streamline recordkeeping, Shwiff believes successful tax compliance still depends heavily on professional interpretation and oversight. “Technology is an incredibly valuable tool, but it is still just a tool,” said Shwiff. “Tax laws are constantly changing, and every client’s situation is unique. Software can process information, but it cannot fully understand context, identify emerging risks, or provide the strategic guidance that comes from years of professional experience.”
The accounting profession has experienced a significant technological transformation over the past decade. Cloud-based systems now allow businesses to manage financial information in real time, while artificial intelligence applications can categorize transactions, identify anomalies, and generate reports in a matter of seconds. These advancements have improved efficiency and reduced the amount of time professionals spend on routine administrative tasks.
For accounting firms, technology has created opportunities to provide faster service and deeper analysis. Yet Shwiff cautions that greater automation has also created a misconception that tax compliance can be handled entirely through software without professional involvement.
According to Shwiff, one of the greatest risks businesses face is assuming that automated systems can identify every tax issue or planning opportunity. While software is effective at processing information based on established rules, it may not recognize unusual circumstances, changing regulations, or complex transactions that require professional interpretation. “Many tax challenges arise not from calculations but from judgment,” said Shwiff. “Business acquisitions, ownership restructurings, international transactions, estate planning decisions, and many other situations require careful analysis. These are areas where professional guidance remains critical.”
Shwiff’s perspective is shaped by more than three decades of experience advising businesses, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and estates. Throughout her career, she has worked on matters involving tax planning, compliance, forensic accounting, litigation support, and cross-border financial issues.
She notes that technology has become particularly valuable in helping professionals identify trends and improve accuracy. However, she believes the most effective approach combines technological efficiency with experienced human review.
The increasing complexity of tax compliance is evident across multiple areas of practice. Businesses operating in several states must navigate varying tax rules and reporting requirements. Companies conducting international business face additional layers of regulation and compliance obligations. Individuals with significant investments, trusts, or estate planning structures often encounter sophisticated tax considerations that require personalized analysis.
At the same time, tax authorities are also leveraging technology to improve enforcement capabilities. Advanced data analytics allow regulators to identify discrepancies, detect unusual reporting patterns, and conduct more targeted examinations. As a result, businesses and individuals must ensure that compliance efforts are both accurate and well-documented.
Shwiff believes this environment makes professional guidance more important, not less. “As technology becomes more powerful, expectations for accuracy and compliance increase as well,” she said. “The goal is not simply to file returns. The goal is to understand the larger financial picture, manage risk appropriately, and make informed decisions that support long-term objectives.”
Beyond compliance, Shwiff emphasizes the importance of strategic tax planning. While software can help organize information, it cannot independently evaluate a client’s broader goals, risk tolerance, family circumstances, or business objectives. Those conversations often lead to planning opportunities that technology alone would not identify.
She also stresses the importance of maintaining strong ethical standards as firms adopt new technologies. Professional judgment remains essential when evaluating financial information, protecting client confidentiality, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Under Shwiff’s leadership, Shwiff, Levy & Polo, LLP continues to integrate advanced technologies while maintaining a strong focus on personalized client service. The firm provides accounting, tax planning and compliance, forensic accounting, expert witness services, litigation support, estate and trust planning, and advisory services to clients throughout the United States and internationally.
Looking ahead, Shwiff expects technology to continue reshaping the accounting profession. However, she believes the most successful firms will be those that balance innovation with the expertise and judgment clients rely upon when facing important financial decisions. “The future of accounting is not technology versus people,” said Shwiff. “It is technology supporting professionals who bring experience, insight, and strategic thinking to complex situations. That combination delivers the greatest value to clients and helps them navigate an increasingly complicated financial world.” To learn more about Shwiff, Levy & Polo, LLP, visit: https://www.slpconsults.cpa/about-the-company.html