The focus was largely on manual processes and legacy systems. Most tax departments relied on spreadsheets and basic accounting software. Compliance was mostly reactive, and digital transformation in taxation was still in its infancy.

Automation began to make a quiet entrance. Basic tax software tools improved, and early adopters started exploring Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for routine tax tasks. Cloud computing was introduced but hadn’t gained full trust in the tax world yet. Globalization also pushed multinationals to rethink cross-border compliance.

Tax teams are now expected to act as strategic partners within organizations. There’s a strong emphasis on real-time data access, proactive compliance, and seamless integration with finance systems. Professionals with hybrid expertise in tax and technology are in high demand, as tax departments continue evolving into business enablers.