10 AI prompts for legal and tax documents: Turn jargon into plain English

AI prompts for legal and tax documents can turn dense clauses, unfamiliar terms, and long sections into structured plain-English explanations. Open your document in pdfFiller, start the AI Assistant, and use the prompts below to explore its contents. Always compare the response with the source and seek qualified advice before acting.

AI Digest:

Use precise prompts that tell the AI what to examine, what context to consider, and how to format its answer. Treat the output as a starting point for understanding the document, not as legal or tax advice.

Key takeaways

• Ask the AI to cite the page, section, or clause behind each explanation.
• Provide your role, jurisdiction, and desired output format when they affect the analysis.
• Request definitions, obligations, dates, assumptions, and questions separately.
• Do not ask AI to decide whether a document is legally valid, enforceable, or suitable for you.
• Remove unnecessary client identifiers and follow your organization’s rules for confidential information.
• Have an attorney, tax professional, or other qualified reviewer check consequential conclusions.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. AI-generated explanations may be incomplete or inaccurate, so verify them against the original document and consult a qualified attorney or tax professional before signing, submitting, or relying on any document. 

How can better prompts make legal documents easier to understand?

A strong prompt gives the AI a defined legal task, relevant context, and a clear output structure. Vague prompts such as “review this contract” leave too much room for assumptions.

Structured prompts should identify:

• Your role and the parties involved
• The section or issue to examine
• The governing law, if the document states one
• The facts the AI may use
• The desired reading level and output format
• Information the AI must not infer
• The points that require attorney or tax professional review

This approach helps distinguish the document’s wording from the AI’s analysis. It also makes omissions and unsupported conclusions easier to spot.

In the prompts below, a table matrix means information arranged under consistent labeled categories in the AI Assistant’s response. From there, you can copy it and paste to a table creator to get the formatted table.

For more information about pdfFiller’s AI assistant capabilities, see our blog posts: pdfFiller’s AI assistant capabilities overview: Accuracy, security, and FAQs and pdfFiller AI assistant FAQ: Everything you need to know.

Which AI prompts can explain legal and tax jargon in plain English?

The following legal prompts are designed for documents already open in pdfFiller. Each prompt asks for document-grounded explanations rather than legal strategy or a final professional conclusion.

1. Explain the entire document in plain English

Prompt:

Explain this legal or tax document in plain English for a reader with no legal or tax background.

Use only information stated in the document. Organize the response under:

1. Purpose of the document
2. Parties or agencies involved
3. Main rights and obligations
4. Amounts, dates, and deadlines
5. Actions the reader may need to take
6. Terms that need further explanation
7. Questions to ask a qualified professional

For every point, cite the relevant page, section, or clause. Clearly label missing, unclear, or conflicting information. Do not provide legal or tax advice, predict an outcome, or assume facts not stated in the document.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to review a legal document and generate a plain-English explanation of its purpose, parties, and key provisions.

Use this when: You need a first-pass overview before reading the document in detail.

Expected AI output: A structured summary with source locations and unresolved questions.

In pdfFiller: Open the document in the editor, select the AI Assistant, choose Ask about document, paste the prompt, and verify each answer against the cited text. To learn more about the workflow, see our guide to chatting with a PDF.

Human review: Do not sign, submit, or rely on the summary until a qualified professional has reviewed any consequential terms.

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2. Create a plain-English glossary

Prompt:

Find the legal, tax, financial, and procedural terms in this document that a general reader may not understand.

Create a table matrix with these categories:

• Term
• Plain-English meaning in this document
• Why the term matters here
• Page, section, or clause
• Meaning that depends on jurisdiction or additional facts

Preserve each term’s precise meaning. Do not replace defined terms with broader everyday words when that would change their effect. If the document defines a term, use that definition and quote no more than the words needed to verify it.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to turn a legal document into a structured term matrix with plain-English explanations, clause references, and notes on issues that may depend on jurisdiction or additional facts.

Use this when: Defined terms or technical language make the document hard to follow.

Expected AI output: A document-specific glossary matrix rather than a generic legal dictionary.

In pdfFiller: Paste the prompt into the AI Assistant while the document is open, then follow its citations to check each definition.

Human review: Ask an attorney or tax professional about any definition that may affect rights, liability, reporting, or payment.

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3. Extract duties, rights, payments, and deadlines

Prompt:

Review this document from the perspective of [YOUR ROLE OR PARTY].

Create a table matrix with these categories:

• Requirement, right, payment, or deadline
• Responsible party
• Required action
• Triggering event
• Date or time period
• Stated consequence of missing the requirement
• Source page and clause
• Point requiring professional confirmation

Use the document’s exact dates and amounts. Distinguish fixed dates from periods calculated after an event. Do not calculate a legal deadline when the starting event or governing rule is unclear.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to extract contract obligations into a structured matrix, including responsible parties, deadlines, triggering events, consequences, clause references, and items that may need professional review.

Use this when: You need an action list from an agreement, notice, filing, or tax document.

Expected AI output: A role-specific matrix of stated obligations and key dates.

In pdfFiller: Review the matrix beside the original document and manually confirm every date, party, and amount before finalizing documents.

Human review: A qualified professional should verify deadlines and consequences, especially when outside law or agency rules may apply.

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4. Explain a difficult contract clause

Prompt:

Explain [CLAUSE NAME OR SECTION NUMBER] from the attached contract in plain English.

Provide:

1. A one-sentence summary
2. What each party must or may do
3. Events that activate the clause
4. Exceptions, limits, or conditions
5. Defined terms used by the clause
6. How the clause connects to other sections
7. Questions for attorney review

Cite the relevant provisions. Separate the clause’s express wording from your interpretation. Do not decide whether the clause is enforceable, standard, fair, or favorable.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to extract the exact wording of a contract section, helping users review specific clauses and identify the parties, purpose, and stated terms.

Use this when: A key provision on indemnity, confidentiality, warranties, dispute resolution, or termination rights needs closer attention.

Expected AI output: A clause map showing its mechanics and related sections.

In pdfFiller: Use the AI response to locate the relevant language. If changes are authorized, use the online PDF editor after attorney review.

Human review: Contract review requires professional judgment; do not rewrite or accept a clause based only on AI output.

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5. Review an employment agreement for discussion points

Prompt:

Analyze this employment agreement only to prepare questions for a qualified employment attorney or HR reviewer.

Identify provisions concerning:

• Role and compensation
• Benefits or bonuses
• Work location and hours
• Confidentiality and intellectual property
• Restrictive covenants
• Leave
• Termination rights
• Dispute resolution
• Governing law

For each provision, explain the text in plain English, cite its location, and list facts or legal standards that a professional may need to check. If the Fair Labor Standards Act or another law is not cited in the document, do not assume how it applies.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to analyze contract provisions and surface context, classification issues, and other points to discuss with an attorney or HR professional.

Use this when: You want to organize questions about employment agreements without asking AI for a legal conclusion.

Expected AI output: A topic-based explanation and attorney-review checklist.

In pdfFiller: Keep the agreement open while checking the AI’s citations and comments against the original language.

Human review: Employment law varies by jurisdiction and facts. Obtain qualified review before making employment decisions.

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6. Explain a tax form or tax notice

Prompt:

Explain this tax form or notice in plain English using only the visible document and its stated instructions.

Organize the answer into:

• Document name and stated purpose
• Issuing authority
• Tax period
• Amounts shown
• Key dates
• Requested information or action
• Referenced schedules, forms, or attachments
• Terms that need a tax professional’s explanation
• Questions to ask a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney

Cite the source page, box, line, or paragraph. Do not calculate tax, determine filing status, recommend a tax position, or infer missing figures.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to analyze a contract and extract core document details such as its purpose, issuing party, dates, and other key reference information.

Use this when: A tax document contains unfamiliar boxes, codes, notices, or instructions.

Expected AI output: A field-by-field orientation and list of professional-review questions.

In pdfFiller: You can also locate a relevant starting document in the pdfFiller tax forms catalog, then review the current official instructions before completing it.

Human review: Have a qualified tax professional verify the explanation and any response, filing, or payment decision.

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7. Identify the governing-law and jurisdiction language

Prompt:

Find every provision in this document concerning governing law, jurisdiction, venue, dispute resolution, arbitration, or choice of forum.

For each provision:

• Quote only the essential wording
• Explain it in plain English
• Identify the named location, court, tribunal, or rules
• Cite the page and section
• Note related provisions elsewhere in the document
• List questions for an attorney

Do not state that a provision is valid or enforceable. If the document mentions Delaware law or another jurisdiction, do not apply that jurisdiction’s law unless authoritative material has been supplied and independently verified.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to identify governing law and dispute-resolution clauses, explain them in plain English, and surface the relevant sections for further legal review.

Use this when: You need to find where and under which stated rules a dispute may be handled.

Expected AI output: A sourced list of jurisdiction-related provisions and review questions.

In pdfFiller: Follow each cited location in the open PDF and add your own notes for attorney review.

Human review: Only a qualified attorney can assess how governing law and procedural rules apply to the specific facts.

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8. Build a legal-research checklist without inventing authorities

Prompt:

Using this document, create a legal research checklist for a qualified legal professional.

List:

• Legal issues expressly raised by the document
• Relevant facts stated in the document
• Missing facts that may affect the analysis
• Defined terms and key provisions
• Possible statutes, regulations, or types of case law to research
• Search terms for finding relevant precedents
• Jurisdiction and date questions
• Assertions that require verification

Do not invent case names, citations, quotations, holdings, or legal arguments. Do not claim that any authority applies. Mark all suggested research topics as leads requiring independent legal research.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to identify legal issues in a contract and turn them into a research checklist for follow-up with a qualified legal professional.

Use this when: Legal teams need a starting point for research rather than an unsupported list of relevant case law.

Expected AI output: A research plan grounded in the document’s facts and issues.

In pdfFiller: Keep the checklist with the document workflow and verify every authority through approved legal research sources.

Human review: Human lawyers must conduct and validate the legal research before using it in legal writing or a legal strategy.

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9. Compare two versions of a legal document

Prompt:

Compare [VERSION A] and [VERSION B] of this legal document.

Create a table matrix with these categories:

• Section
• Earlier wording
• Revised wording
• Plain-English description of the change
• Party affected
• Dates, amounts, duties, or termination rights changed
• Possible question for attorney review

Identify additions, deletions, and wording changes without deciding whether they are beneficial or legally significant. Cite the page and section in both versions. State when formatting or missing text prevents a reliable comparison.

pdfFiller’s AI Assistant can flag when a comparison requires another document version and specify what it needs before analyzing changes in wording, obligations, dates, amounts, and termination terms.

Use this when: You need to prepare a revised contract or agreement for human review.

Expected AI output: A structured change matrix with source locations.

In pdfFiller: Use the findings to inspect the documents, annotate changes, and route the revised version through your organization’s review process. 

Human review: An attorney should determine the legal effect of every material revision.

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10. Prepare questions and a neutral client email

Prompt:

Based only on this document, prepare:

Part 1: A prioritized list of questions for [ATTORNEY, CPA, ENROLLED AGENT, OR OTHER REVIEWER].

Part 2: A neutral client email that confirms receipt of the document and lists information still needed.

Include key facts, parties, dates, amounts, and unclear provisions. Cite the document location supporting each question. Do not give advice, make promises, admit liability, reveal legal strategy, or characterize opposing counsel. Use placeholders instead of unnecessary client identifiers or sensitive client information.

Use pdfFiller’s AI Assistant to turn contract provisions into focused questions for legal counsel, helping prepare issues such as worker classification, venue, jurisdiction, and related contract risks for professional review.

Use this when: You need to turn document review into focused client communications and a professional-review agenda.

Expected AI output: A sourced question list and restrained email draft.

In pdfFiller: Verify the names, dates, and cited provisions before using the draft in your legal workflow.

Human review: Check confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, tone, and professional obligations before sending any communication.

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How do you use these prompts in pdfFiller?

The workflow keeps the source document, AI conversation, and manual review connected in one place.

1. Upload a legal or tax document, or start from a fillable template.
   
   

   Use pdfFiller’s Add new menu to upload documents from your device or connected cloud storage, import files from a URL or email, or create new PDFs and templates.

   2. Open the document in the pdfFiller editor.

   3. Select the AI Assistant and choose Ask about document.

   

   The pdfFiller AI Assistant opens within the workspace, giving users quick access to AI-powered document tools.

   4. Paste one prompt and replace its bracketed fields.

   

   The pdfFiller AI Assistant lets users ask questions about a document or choose quick actions to summarize, translate, check grammar, or extract text.

   5. Review the response and follow its citations back to the document. pdfFiller’s official workflow states that the assistant can clarify terms, summarize content, and answer questions about an open document.
   6. Correct missing context with a follow-up prompt rather than assuming the first answer is complete.
   7. Have a qualified professional verify facts, fields, legal issues, and tax implications.

Only then edit, fill, sign, share, or otherwise complete the document using the appropriate pdfFiller tools.

pdfFiller’s editing toolbar provides direct access to text, signature, annotation, drawing, form, and page-editing tools for working with PDFs in the browser.

What safeguards should you use with legal AI prompts?

AI tools can assist with explanation and organization, but they do not replace attorney review, tax advice, or professional judgment.

Protect confidential information

Follow your organization’s data-processing, retention, and AI-use policies. Remove information the AI does not need, including client identifiers, account numbers, witness statements, prior testimony, and sensitive personal data. Legal professionals should assess confidentiality and attorney-client privilege before submitting client material.

Verify every source reference

Compare each AI-generated statement with the attached contract, notice, or form. Verify cited laws, relevant precedents, case outcomes, and legal standards through authoritative sources. Never use an invented or unverified citation in legal work.

Keep the task narrow

Ask for one defined output at a time. Detailed prompts help, but providing as much context as possible does not mean disclosing unnecessary confidential information. Include only the relevant information required for the task.

Preserve the human decision

Use AI-generated explanations to prepare questions and support review. A person with the appropriate legal or tax qualifications should make consequential decisions and approve documents before signing, sending, or submitting them.

Final thoughts

The best AI prompts for legal and tax documents define the task, limit the source material, request citations, and expose uncertainty. They can help you explain a legal document in plain English, organize key terms, and prepare better questions, but the original text and qualified human review remain authoritative.

Open your document, choose the prompt that matches your task, verify the output, and complete the approved next steps in pdfFiller.

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Glossary

• Attorney-client privilege: A legal protection that may apply to certain confidential communications between a lawyer and client. Its scope depends on the facts and jurisdiction.
• Defined term: A word or phrase given a specific meaning within a document.
• Governing law: The law the document names for interpreting the agreement or specified issues.
• Legal jargon: Specialized legal language that may have a narrower meaning than its everyday equivalent.
• Legal research: The process of finding and evaluating statutes, regulations, cases, and other legal authorities.
• Plain English: Clear language designed to help the intended reader understand and use information.
• Prompt: An instruction or question given to an AI tool.
• Table matrix: Information arranged under consistent labeled categories in an AI response.
• Termination rights: Contract terms describing when and how a party may end an agreement.
• Tax notice: A written communication from a tax authority about a return, account, amount, deadline, or requested action.