Questions about OpenAccountants
What OpenAccountants does — and where its limits are.
Choose the section that matches how you plan to use OpenAccountants.
Using OpenAccountants
What is OpenAccountants?
OpenAccountants is an open, accountant-maintained tax intelligence layer for software and AI. People can read the Tax Guides, add them to the AI they already use, or build on them through developer interfaces.
Is it tax advice?
No. Tax Guides and automated outputs are reference material and drafts. User-specific professional advice requires a separate engagement with a qualified practitioner.
Does it file or pay taxes?
No, unless a specific future service explicitly states otherwise. The current Tax Guides help research, organise facts and prepare drafts.
Why add it to your AI if the files are public?
Added to your AI, it searches the current Tax Guides, retrieves the relevant ones and returns version and review details during a conversation.
Developers
Do I need MCP?
No. Read files on the website or GitHub, install local packages with the CLI, use MCP for compatible agents or use API access for an existing application.
Can I inspect a Guide before connecting?
Yes. Every public Tax Guide should be readable on OpenAccountants and linked to its exact GitHub source.
How are updates handled?
Each Guide is versioned. Local installations can pin versions, hosted retrieval returns the current release and production integrations can use change notifications where available.
Accountants
Must I become a Partner to use OpenAccountants?
No. Accountants can use OpenAccountants and the Tax Guides without becoming a Partner.
What does reviewing a Guide involve?
As a Partner, you review the complete displayed Guide version against its sources and your professional knowledge. The review is recorded publicly with your name, credentials and review date.
Will I receive client work?
You may opt in to relevant professional introductions where available. Introductions and paid work use separate terms and are not guaranteed.
Privacy
Does local use send data to OpenAccountants?
Downloaded files and a genuinely local installation do not send content to OpenAccountants unless the user enables a networked service.
Does the hosted service send data to OpenAccountants?
Yes. Requests reach the hosted service and may generate operational metadata as described in the Privacy Policy. Do not submit unnecessary personal or confidential data.
What happens during professional review?
The information selected for review is shared with the relevant practitioner under the applicable engagement and privacy terms.