Corporate tax departments face a tough reality — too much work and not enough time. Tax professionals want to play a bigger strategic role in their companies, but daily compliance demands, political changes, regulatory uncertainty, and staff shortages get in the way.
The Thomson Reuters latest report, the 2025 State of the Corporate Tax Department, reveals the key findings from a survey of senior decision-makers and influencers in corporate tax departments across the globe. The report highlights how departments are navigating unprecedented challenges while struggling to transform from reactive compliance functions into strategic business partners.
Key findings:
- Political changes and regulatory uncertainty now rank as the top challenge facing tax departments, with 58% of departments reporting they are under-resourced — up from 51% in 2024.
- Tax professionals spend 56% of their time on basic, reactive tasks when they aspire to dedicate up to 70% of their time on strategic planning and analysis — highlighting the persistent gap between ambition and reality.
- Only 33% of those doing mostly tactical work feel they're making a real difference in their organization, compared to 63% of those focused on strategic work who feel they're adding significant value.
- Despite the potential of generative AI (GenAI) to transform operations, 67% of departments have yet to adopt it, while 50% of under-staffed departments face penalties versus only 34% of properly staffed ones.
You’ll gain:
- Insights into why political and regulatory uncertainty now dominates tax department priorities, and proven strategies for moving from reactive to proactive operations — learn why 70% of companies are still struggling with this transformation.
- Understanding of the real cost of being under-resourced and how technology can bridge the gap — discover why 57% of departments adding new technology plan to include GenAI features and 52% expect budget increases.
- Practical guidance on improving tax operations and delivering more strategic value, including how leading tax departments are expanding their influence and demonstrating impact beyond compliance.
This report is based on survey responses from 288 senior decision-makers in corporate tax departments worldwide, conducted between July and August 2025.