What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have ChatGPT Plus set up and a repeatable workflow for using it to accelerate tax research — going from a client question to a draft research memo in under 15 minutes instead of 90. You'll also have a system for keeping your work confidential and your research organized.
What you'll need
- A personal or firm-provided ChatGPT Plus account
- The client's facts (described without names or identifying information)
- The relevant IRC section or question to research
- Time needed: 15 minutes setup; 10–20 min per research task afterward
- Cost: $20/month (ChatGPT Plus) — may be reimbursable as a professional tool
How-To Guide: Use ChatGPT Plus for Complex Tax Research and Memo Drafting
Step 1: Create and set up your ChatGPT Plus account
Go to chatgpt.com. Click "Sign Up" if you don't have an account, or upgrade an existing free account by clicking your name → "Upgrade to Plus." Enter your payment information. You'll be billed $20/month.
What you should see: Your account now shows "ChatGPT Plus" status. You have access to GPT-4o (the most capable model) selected by default.
Important: Use your personal email for the account unless your firm has a business subscription that includes data privacy protections. Never enter real client names, SSNs, EINs, or identifying information — always describe situations generically.