From Influence to Impact: How Are Tax Leaders Sustaining Their Strategic Role?
Tax leaders have solidified their role as trusted advisors to the business. Amid frequent regulatory changes, global tax complexity, and tariff uncertainty, tax has demonstrated its strategic value beyond a single period of disruption.
The 2026 BDO Tax Strategist Survey reveals that the tax function’s influence is increasingly concentrated in key areas of business strategy. While tax leaders are involved in critical business decisions, gaps in cross-functional collaboration, data infrastructure, and operating models are creating risk exposure at a time when expectations have never been higher.
Based on insights from 300 tax executives, this year’s report examines how tax functions are navigating rising complexity and what it will take to translate influence into lasting enterprise value.
Discover key insights on the following topics:
- How are tax leaders focusing their influence across key enterprise decisions?
- What is the greatest source of tax risk and how are teams keeping up?
- How is global tax complexity reshaping cost structures and resourcing models?
- What does year-one adoption of new accounting rules reveal about data and process readiness?
- How are state and local tax fragmentation and tariff volatility increasing compliance pressure?
- How are tax leaders aligning technology, data, and operating models to meet growing demands?
Download our report to benchmark your tax function, understand emerging risks, and access data-driven insights into how tax leaders are adapting to a new era of complexity.
