When a CNBC journalist asked ChatGPT for help filing taxes after selling Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) shares, the AI confidently provided incorrect and incomplete guidance: 1. ChatGPT stated: "You do NOT need a CPA. This is a very simple return with one stock plan wrinkle." 2. The AI told the journalist that checking their W-2 for a specific line item "wasn't that big a deal" and that the situation was "almost certainly" correct. 3. ChatGPT missed the fact that several numbers in the 1099 form indicated the journalist may have made taxable moves they didn't actually make. 4. The AI breezily assured the journalist their return was straightforward, failing to flag any of the discrepancies or follow-up questions. A licensed CPA (Miklos Ringbauer) reviewed the AI's advice and found it to be materially incomplete and misleading. The W-2 check that ChatGPT dismissed as minor was actually critical — requiring professional examination to ensure all numbers added up correctly. Source: CNBC, March 31, 2026 — "I asked ChatGPT for tax help — experts say I fell into a classic trap" by Ryan Ermey
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