Explain a tax or BAS term in plain English
Turn a confusing term into a short, clear explanation a client actually understands — drafted in seconds, checked by you.
What you’ll do
- Name the term and who you're explaining it to.
- Ask for a short, plain-English explanation with a simple example.
- Check it's accurate for your client's situation, then send.
Common questions
Isn't explaining a tax term the same as giving tax advice?
Not when it's a general, plain-English description of what a term means — like explaining what a BAS is, or how GST credits work in principle. The AI drafts a general explainer; you check it's accurate for your client's circumstances and confirm you're not advising on their specific position. You're the qualified professional — the AI is just helping you write clearly.
What if the AI gets the explanation wrong?
That's exactly why you review it before sending. The lesson shows how to spot-check the draft against your own knowledge and, if needed, the relevant ATO or HMRC guidance. Never forward an explainer you haven't read and verified yourself.
Can I use this for complex topics, or just simple terms?
Start with the simple, frequently-asked ones — GST, BAS, depreciation, PAYG withholding. For complex scenarios with specific client implications, the AI draft is still useful as a starting structure, but it needs more careful review. The lesson covers how to keep the scope appropriately general.
Should I paste in my client's financials to get a more tailored explanation?
No — and you shouldn't need to. A plain-English explainer of a concept doesn't require client-specific data. Give the AI the term and the type of client (sole trader, small employer, etc.) and it'll produce something appropriately pitched. Keep client records out of the AI tool.
Could the AI say something that contradicts current tax law?
It's possible, which is why your review step matters. AI tools have training data cut-offs and aren't updated in real time as legislation changes. You confirm the draft is current and correct before it goes anywhere near a client.
Which AI tool works best for this kind of explanation?
ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all handle plain-language writing well — free tiers are fine for drafting client-facing explainers. The lesson covers how to get a consistently clear result from any of them.