What is IRIS AI and how does it work?

IRIS AI is artificial intelligence built directly into IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite. It assists with reviewing, preparing, and validating SA100 tax returns—comparing data against prior years, extracting information from source documents, and checking entries against HMRC rules. Everything happens inside your existing workflow with no separate tools to install.

How is IRIS safeguarding my data in IRIS AI?

All personal and identifiable data is removed before being processed by the IRIS Tax Anomaly Detector. No personal or tax return data is stored by the IRIS Tax Anomaly Detector. Only the responses and any feedback you provided are stored. All data is encrypted. Only HTTPS transport methods are used. Any data analysed is not made publicly accessible and cannot be used by external AI models. All data is ring-fenced for the IRIS Tax Anomaly Detector only.

Does IRIS AI replace the accountant’s judgement?

No. IRIS AI is designed to support your professional decisions, not replace them. Every suggestion, flag, or extracted data point is presented for your review. You remain in full control of every return.

Which IRIS products include AI features?

IRIS AI is currently embedded in IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite. AI features appear directly inside the tax workflow—there’s no separate tool to install or log in to.

What types of tax return does IRIS AI support?

IRIS AI currently supports SA100 self-assessment returns. Support for additional return types is part of the ongoing product roadmap.

What does anomaly detection actually flag?

The anomaly detection feature compares each return against prior-year data to highlight new items, removed items, and material changes. It provides recommended actions and context so reviewers can prioritise their attention on genuine risks.

How does AI-assisted preparation work?

AI-assisted preparation is designed to extract data from source documents such as P60s, P11Ds, dividend vouchers, and bank statements, then classify income and expenses and validate entries against HMRC rules. This is designed to reduce manual data entry and help catch errors earlier in the process.

Is my client data safe with AI?

Yes. IRIS AI operates within IRIS’ established data governance framework, backed by ISO 27001:2022 accreditation. Your data remains protected under the same security standards that apply to all IRIS products. AI processing is workflow-embedded and privacy-conscious by design.

Do I need to install anything or pay extra?

IRIS AI is built into your existing IRIS software—there’s nothing extra to install. IRIS AI features for standard AI anomaly detection is free of charge for all tax subscribers. Additional AI features such as data extraction, and enhanced HMRC validation incur an additional cost. Speak to your account manager or book a demo to find out more.

How can AI help accountants with tax returns?

AI can help accountants by automating data extraction from source documents, classifying income and expenses, flagging anomalies against prior-year returns, and validating entries against HMRC rules in real time. This is designed to reduce manual preparation effort and improve review consistency across teams.

Is IRIS AI compatible with Making Tax Digital?

Yes. IRIS AI is embedded within IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite, both of which are MTD-ready and HMRC-recognised. AI features work alongside your existing MTD compliance workflows, not in place of them.

AI for Tax

AI-powered tax preparation and review for accountants

AI embedded into your tax workflow to help you prepare, review, and validate SA100 returns faster, with greater confidence. Included in all Tax subscriptions, no extra cost for AI anomaly detection.

Book a demo

See how it works

~90 mins

Target return prep time,
down from ~4 hours *
No extra cost

For AI Anomaly Detection
Included in your IRIS subscription
Built in

No bolt-on tools
or separate logins

*Assumes full implementation of all enhanced features.

Hours lost to manual data entry

Keying in figures from P60s, P11Ds, dividend vouchers, and bank statements is time-consuming and error-prone—especially during peak filing season when every hour counts.

Review quality varies across your team

With team members at different experience levels, it’s difficult to ensure every return receives the same rigorous review before submission.

Growing volumes, but not growing teams

Client volumes keep rising, but you can’t match them with proportional hiring. Your practice needs leverage—not just more staff—to maintain quality through peak season and beyond.

Built in, not bolted on

AI embedded into your existing IRIS workflow

Unlike standalone AI tools that sit outside your workflow, IRIS AI is built directly into IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite. There’s nothing extra to install, no separate login, and no disruption to the way your team already works. AI assistance appears exactly where and when it’s needed—inside the tools you use every day.

Book a demo

Catch errors missed in manual review

Before you submit your tax return, IRIS AI compares each SA100 return against prior-year data to flag new, removed, or materially changed items. It highlights the areas that need your attention most, so reviewers can focus on genuine risks rather than checking every line. The result is faster, more confident reviews across your entire team.
From document to return, without the re-keying

IRIS AI is designed to extract data directly from P60s, P11Ds, dividend vouchers, bank statements, and client checklists—reducing the hours your team spends on manual data entry. Upload documents for a single client from within the tax return screen, or use our bulk ingestion (coming soon) to process multiple clients at once through a centralised interface. AI handles the heavy lifting while you maintain full oversight of every figure.
Income and expenses, intelligently categorised

Using machine learning trained on IRIS datasets, AI classifies income and expenses into the correct categories. This is designed to reduce the repetitive decision-making that slows your team down during busy periods—helping ensure consistency whether a return is handled by a trainee or a senior manager.
Check returns against HMRC rules as you work

As returns are prepared, IRIS AI is designed to validate entries against HMRC rules and wider legislation in real time—highlighting potential issues before they reach the reviewer’s desk. It supports your team in catching avoidable errors earlier, saving time on rework and giving you greater confidence at the point of submission.

See IRIS AI in your workflow

Book a personalised demo and see how IRIS AI can help your practice prepare, review, and validate tax returns faster—directly inside IRIS Elements or IRIS Accountancy Suite. Our team will walk you through the features most relevant to your practice, with no obligation.

You stay in control

IRIS AI supports your decisions—it doesn’t make them for you. Every AI-assisted suggestion is there for you to review, accept, or override. Human judgement remains central.
Reduce manual effort

From data extraction to classification and validation, IRIS AI is designed to take on the repetitive tasks that consume your team’s time—so you can redirect senior capacity from compliance admin to higher-value advisory work.
Consistent quality, every return

AI-powered checks help ensure every return benefits from the same level of scrutiny, regardless of who in your team handles it. Junior staff are guided through complex returns safely, while senior oversight is maintained.

Frequently asked questions

: IRIS AI is artificial intelligence built directly into IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite. It assists with reviewing, preparing, and validating SA100 tax returns—comparing data against prior years, extracting information from source documents, and checking entries against HMRC rules. Everything happens inside your existing workflow with no separate tools to install.
: All personal and identifiable data is removed before being processed by the IRIS Tax Anomaly Detector.

No personal or tax return data is stored by the IRIS Tax Anomaly Detector. Only the responses and any feedback you provided are stored.

All data is encrypted. Only HTTPS transport methods are used.

Any data analysed is not made publicly accessible and cannot be used by external AI models. All data is ring-fenced for the IRIS Tax Anomaly Detector only.
: No. IRIS AI is designed to support your professional decisions, not replace them. Every suggestion, flag, or extracted data point is presented for your review. You remain in full control of every return.
: IRIS AI is currently embedded in IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite. AI features appear directly inside the tax workflow—there’s no separate tool to install or log in to.
: IRIS AI currently supports SA100 self-assessment returns. Support for additional return types is part of the ongoing product roadmap.
: The anomaly detection feature compares each return against prior-year data to highlight new items, removed items, and material changes. It provides recommended actions and context so reviewers can prioritise their attention on genuine risks.
: AI-assisted preparation is designed to extract data from source documents such as P60s, P11Ds, dividend vouchers, and bank statements, then classify income and expenses and validate entries against HMRC rules. This is designed to reduce manual data entry and help catch errors earlier in the process.
: Yes. IRIS AI operates within IRIS’ established data governance framework, backed by ISO 27001:2022 accreditation. Your data remains protected under the same security standards that apply to all IRIS products. AI processing is workflow-embedded and privacy-conscious by design.
: IRIS AI is built into your existing IRIS software—there’s nothing extra to install. IRIS AI features for standard AI anomaly detection is free of charge for all tax subscribers. Additional AI features such as data extraction, and enhanced HMRC validation incur an additional cost. Speak to your account manager or book a demo to find out more.
: AI can help accountants by automating data extraction from source documents, classifying income and expenses, flagging anomalies against prior-year returns, and validating entries against HMRC rules in real time. This is designed to reduce manual preparation effort and improve review consistency across teams.
: Yes. IRIS AI is embedded within IRIS Elements and IRIS Accountancy Suite, both of which are MTD-ready and HMRC-recognised. AI features work alongside your existing MTD compliance workflows, not in place of them.

AI-powered tax preparation and review for accountants