Xero AI agent (JAX) in the UK: what it does and what it costs

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Card showing which Xero JAX features are live, early access or unavailable in the UK on 29 October 2026

The Xero AI agent, JAX, is included in every UK Xero plan at no extra charge as of 29 October 2026. It answers questions about your figures, drafts and sends invoices and quotes, and reads receipts into your books. On Grow (£39 a month excluding VAT) and above it also reconciles your bank feed automatically. The parts that sound most like an agent are not open to everyone yet. Xero's AI invoice chasing and its XeroForce agent builder are early access only, and its new Google Gemini app excludes the UK.

Last updated 29 October 2026. Written by Annie, a search and digital marketing specialist. Based on Xero's UK product and pricing pages, its Xero Central help articles, media releases, terms and privacy notice, and the official UK pages of QuickBooks and Sage, all checked on 29 October 2026; I have not tested JAX hands-on. Xero shows UK prices in pounds excluding VAT. Some links on this page may become affiliate links; they will be marked. See the editorial policy.

Key facts

  • What JAX is: the AI built into Xero, short for Just Ask Xero. Its help pages still label it beta.
  • Cost (UK, 29 October 2026): no extra charge for JAX chat on any plan. Plans are £18, £39, £55 or £70 a month excluding VAT, with 90% off for the first six months for new customers.
  • Live in the UK: JAX chat, Smart Document Capture on all plans, auto bank reconciliation from Grow (or £3.50 a month extra on Ignite).
  • Early access only: AI payment follow-ups that chase overdue invoices, and the XeroForce agent builder.
  • Not in the UK: Xero's app for Google Gemini, launched 14 October 2026.
  • Anthropic and Claude: a multi-year partnership since March 2026; the Xero connector in Claude is free and read-only.
  • Your data: Xero says data sent to its AI model providers is not used to train their models.

On this page

What is the Xero AI agent, JAX?

JAX is the AI layer inside Xero's cloud accounting software. You open it from the navigation bar and type a request; some jobs, such as bank reconciliation, it runs on its own.

Xero's UK AI page calls JAX "your AI finance partner" and says it "works like an AI accountant for your day-to-day admin". In a March 2026 media release, Diya Jolly, then Xero's chief product and technology officer, called it Xero's "AI superagent". The help centre is more modest. The Xero Central article "About JAX" is still headed BETA and says JAX "uses third party large language models (LLMs) to deliver the AI experience".

Xero UK JAX product page showing the headline about getting more done with JAX, and a short description of its conversational features
JAX product page, xero.com/uk, 29 October 2026. Screenshot: aiagents.org.uk

Two promises matter more than the branding. JAX only acts within your user role, and Xero says "Everything it automates is yours to review", with an audit trail. If you want the general idea first, my guide to AI for accountants and bookkeepers shows where JAX sits among the other ledger AIs.

What can Xero JAX do in the UK today?

As of 29 October 2026, a UK Xero user can chat with JAX, have it read bills and receipts, and, on most plans, let it reconcile the bank feed. Invoice chasing by AI and custom agents are still early access.

Card showing what Xero JAX does in the UK on 29 October 2026: live are JAX chat, Smart Document Capture, auto bank reconciliation from Grow and read-only Claude and Microsoft 365 Copilot connectors; early access are payment follow-ups and XeroForce; not in the UK are the Gemini app and three Xerocon US features
What is live, early access or missing in the UK, from Xero's own pages, checked 29 October 2026.
JAX featureWhat it doesUK status (29 October 2026)Which plans
JAX chatAnswers on revenue, profit and cash flow, cash flow projections, industry benchmarks, Xero help and web research; creates, approves and sends invoices and quotes; answers questions about uploaded documentsLive, labelled betaAll plans; admin and standard users
Smart Document CaptureReads PDF, JPG or PNG files and creates bills, invoices, spend or receive money transactionsLiveAll business plans
Auto bank reconciliationMatches bank lines when confidence is high; leaves the rest for youLiveGrow and above; Ignite via a £3.50 a month add-on
Payment follow-upsAI-written emails chasing overdue invoices, paused when payment is detectedEarly access group onlyNot stated
XeroForce agent builderCustom agents described in plain English, such as a month-end agentEarly access; general release promised "later this year"Not stated
Xero app in Google GeminiAsk Gemini about live Xero dataNot available in the UKNot applicable

The reconciliation feature is the one that changes your week. Xero Central says JAX tries four methods in turn: a match to an existing transaction such as an invoice, bill or payment, a bank rule, your own history of up to 5,000 reconciled transactions, and a prediction from how other Xero users reconciled similar lines. It only reconciles lines that arrive after you switch it on. Xero claims "97% reconciliation accuracy" but does not say how it was measured.

Xero's AI payment follow-ups write chasing emails, group a customer's overdue invoices and stop when payment arrives, but Xero Central says the feature "is only available to organisations in the early access group". Everyone already has Xero's ordinary invoice reminders: up to five scheduled emails, no AI. My invoice-chasing agent guide covers the rules to write first.

Document Requests, Cash Flow actions and Bill Protection, shown at Xerocon US on 20 August 2026, have no UK date.

Most likely because Xero went down on a busy morning, not because of AI. Xero's status page logged a global incident, "customers are experiencing issues across Xero", from 09:33 to 10:34 UK time on Wednesday 28 October. Xero said "A product release caused one of Xero's dependencies to become unavailable".

It was also Budget day, and Xero's blog covered the changes for accountants. The same afternoon, International Business Times UK reported Xero's new Gemini app and noted it was not available in the UK. That was the only AI angle I found in the day's coverage. This is my reading of the timing, not Google's data.

How much does Xero JAX cost in the UK?

JAX chat costs nothing on top of a Xero plan. UK plans cost £18 (Ignite), £39 (Grow), £55 (Comprehensive) or £70 (Ultimate) a month excluding VAT, as of 29 October 2026, and new UK customers get 90% off for the first six months.

Xero UK pricing page showing four plans: Ignite at 1.80 pounds then 18 pounds, Grow at 3.90 then 39, Comprehensive at 5.50 then 55 and Ultimate at 7 then 70 pounds a month excluding VAT, with Smart document capture and Auto-reconcile listed
Pricing plans page, xero.com/uk, 29 October 2026. Prices exclude VAT. Screenshot: aiagents.org.uk

Xero's FAQ says: "There's currently no additional charge to Xero subscribers to use JAX chat experience. However, we reserve the right to change the terms and conditions of using JAX, including the pricing." So free today is not free for ever.

Bar chart of Xero UK monthly plan prices excluding VAT: Ignite 18 pounds, Grow 39, Comprehensive 55 and Ultimate 70, with VAT-inclusive equivalents of 21.60, 46.80, 66 and 84 pounds
Xero UK plan prices after the introductory offer. VAT-inclusive figures are my calculation at 20%.
PlanPrice excl. VATWith 20% VAT (my sum)First 6 months, new customersAI features listed
Ignite£18£21.60£1.80JAX chat, Smart Document Capture; auto-reconcile £3.50 extra
Grow£39£46.80£3.90As Ignite, plus auto-reconcile included
Comprehensive£55£66£5.50As Grow, plus budgets with smart suggestions
Ultimate£70£84£7As Comprehensive, plus KPI analysis and industry benchmarks

The offer covers only the base plan for new UK customers. A non-VAT-registered sole trader pays the VAT on top, so Ignite with auto reconciliation is £25.80 a month once the offer ends. For how this compares with other AI spending, see how much AI agents cost in the UK.

How does Xero work with Anthropic's Claude?

Xero and Anthropic announced a multi-year partnership on 27 March 2026, and the Xero connector in Claude went live on 12 May 2026. It lets Claude read your live Xero figures. It cannot change anything in Xero.

Xero describes two halves: Claude's reasoning inside JAX, and Xero's data inside Claude. The second is what you can use now. Xero's UK Claude page says "Claude can't create, edit, approve, reconcile or pay in Xero", and that connector data is not "used to train Anthropic models". You ask about profit, cash, overdue invoices or top customers, and Claude answers with links back to the Xero record.

  • The connector is free and works on any Xero business plan with a free or paid Claude account. It connects one Xero organisation at a time.
  • The Claude for Small Business plugin adds ready-made skills such as invoice chase, cash flow forecast and business snapshot. Xero Central says it needs a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise Claude plan. Claude Pro is £18 a month including VAT in the UK, according to Anthropic's pricing page; the other plans are in my Claude pricing guide.
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot has a similar read-only Xero agent, but needs a paid Copilot licence.
  • ChatGPT got a Xero plugin on 16 September 2026, powered by JAX. Xero's UK pages do not mention it, so check it appears in your account.

One caveat, from Xero itself: "Claude reads uncoded transactions and draft invoices too." Anthropic's own plugin page says every workflow starts in approval mode, with nothing sent or paid until you agree.

What is XeroForce, and can you use it in the UK?

XeroForce is Xero's no-code AI agent builder: you describe a workflow in plain English and it builds an agent across Xero and your other apps. It is early access only, so most UK users cannot switch it on yet.

It launched on 14 May 2026 as an alpha for "invite-only customers". At Xerocon London in July it demonstrated an agent that pulls a monthly profit and loss, drafts a client email and attaches the report. On 20 August Xero added a month-end agent and repeated that general availability would come "later this year". I found no announcement of general availability by 29 October 2026.

Test runs send nothing, and an activity log records what ran and what data it read. Xero's terms say early access services are used "at your own risk" and may change or be withdrawn. Pilot it on one test client. For building agents outside Xero, see how to build an AI agent.

Is Xero JAX safe for client data? Xero's AI and data terms

Xero says data you send to JAX is processed by third-party AI model providers but not used to train their models. It does not publish separate AI terms; the rules sit in its JAX FAQ, privacy notice and terms of use.

  1. Who processes it. The JAX FAQ names AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and OpenAI as model providers. Xero says what you enter "may include personal data, but this data isn't used to train the LLMs".
  2. When. Xero Central says no data is used by JAX or the models "unless you choose to send a message to JAX". Auto reconciliation runs in the background once switched on.
  3. Xero's own use. The UK privacy notice, updated 26 October 2026, says Xero uses personal data to deliver and improve its services "including using AI/ML". Reconciliation predictions also learn from how other users reconciled similar lines.
  4. Where it goes. Personal data may be processed in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States, with safeguards such as standard contractual clauses for UK data.
  5. Who is responsible. Xero's terms say you are responsible "for verifying the accuracy of any information that you use from our services for your legal, tax and compliance obligations".

For a practice, name JAX and any connectors in your DPIA and engagement letters. My guides to AI agents and UK GDPR and AI policy and DPIA templates cover both.

Does JAX help with Making Tax Digital?

Indirectly. JAX categorises and reconciles transactions, and Xero says that keeps your Making Tax Digital records current, but you still review and send each quarterly update yourself.

According to GOV.UK, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 should have joined MTD for Income Tax on 6 April 2026, with £30,000 following in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. The update for the period to 5 October is due on 7 November, and HMRC says it will not apply penalty points for late quarterly updates in the 2026 to 2027 tax year. Xero's own FAQ puts it plainly: "you, not the AI, make the final call on what you file".

Xero JAX vs QuickBooks and Sage AI in the UK

All three big UK cloud ledgers build AI into their plans. Sage is the only one that says its AI chases late invoices on every plan; QuickBooks labels several of its AI features beta with monthly limits.

Xero (JAX)QuickBooks (Intuit Intelligence)Sage Accounting (Sage Copilot)
Lowest plan after offerIgnite £18 excl. VATSole Trader Plus £10; Simple Start £16 (VAT not labelled on the page I saw)Start £20 excl. VAT
AI includedJAX chat on all plans, no extra chargeSmart expense organisation on all plans; chat and custom automations on all plans in beta, with "limited queries per month"Copilot "included in all plans"
AI invoice chasingPayment follow-ups, early access onlyBulk invoices and payment reminders on approval, Essentials (£38) and up, betaCopilot "automatically follows up on late invoices"
Bank matchingAuto reconciliation from Grow, or £3.50 add-onAutomated bookkeeping on all plansNot stated on the Copilot page
VAT helpVAT returns to HMRC on all plansAI VAT pre-file check from Simple StartCopilot VAT assistant checks books for mistakes

Prices are from each UK pricing page on 29 October 2026. Sage's claim that Copilot gets you paid "7 days faster" comes without a method. Do not switch ledgers for the AI alone; use the AI in the package you already have.

Should a sole trader, small business or practice use JAX?

Yes, if you are already on Xero: the chat and document capture cost nothing extra, and auto reconciliation is likely the biggest time saver. Keep anything that sends money, chases a disputed invoice or files with HMRC under human control.

Decision card with three columns: sole trader on Ignite, small business on Grow and accountancy practice on the partner programme, each with four numbered first steps for using Xero JAX
Where to start with JAX, by type of user, as of 29 October 2026.

A first month with JAX, in order:

  1. Tidy first. Update contacts, bank rules and the chart of accounts. Xero Central says these make reconciliation more accurate.
  2. Switch on Smart Document Capture and send it receipts and bills for a week. Check the VAT figures.
  3. Turn on auto reconciliation on Grow or above. Review the lines JAX reconciled every Friday and correct mistakes; Xero says JAX learns from corrections.
  4. Chase invoices with rules, not AI, for now. Use Xero's standard reminders, and keep final notices and disputes for a person.

Sole traders on Ignite get JAX chat and document capture, and can add auto reconciliation for £3.50. Small businesses on Grow get reconciliation included, and the Claude connector helps if you already use Claude. See my AI for small business guide. Practices should note that JAX in Xero Partner Hub is also labelled beta. Xero claims auto reconciliation saves accountants and bookkeepers "around 50%" of monthly reconciliation time. Pilot on two or three tidy client files. For client reporting, my checkable client-reporting workflow pairs well with JAX's figures.

Frequently asked questions

Is Xero JAX free in the UK?

Yes, on top of a paid Xero plan. As of 29 October 2026, Xero says there is no additional charge to use JAX chat, but reserves the right to change JAX pricing. UK plans cost £18 to £70 a month excluding VAT, and auto bank reconciliation needs Grow at £39 or a £3.50 add-on on Ignite.

Can Xero JAX chase unpaid invoices?

Only for some users so far. Xero's AI payment follow-ups write and send chasing emails and stop when payment arrives, but as of 29 October 2026 they are limited to an early access group. Every Xero user can turn on standard invoice reminders, up to five scheduled emails, which use no AI.

Does Xero use my data to train AI?

Xero says data sent to the model providers behind JAX, named as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and OpenAI, is not used to train their models. Its privacy notice does say Xero uses data, including with AI and machine learning, to deliver and improve its own services. The Claude connector data is not used to train Anthropic models.

Can I use Xero with Claude in the UK?

Yes. The Xero connector in Claude is free on any Xero business plan with a free or paid Claude account, and it is read-only, so Claude cannot change your books. The Claude for Small Business plugin, with skills such as invoice chase, needs a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise Claude plan.

Is XeroForce available in the UK?

Only through early access. Xero launched XeroForce as an invite-only alpha in May 2026, showed it to UK partners at Xerocon London in July, and has said general availability will come later this year. I found no general release announcement by 29 October 2026, so most UK practices cannot switch it on yet.

Why can't I use Xero in Google Gemini in the UK?

Xero has excluded the UK. Its blog says the Gemini app is available wherever Gemini Apps are supported, except in the European Economic Area, Nigeria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It has given no UK date. UK users can get similar read-only answers through the Xero connectors for Claude or Microsoft 365 Copilot instead.

Sources

About the author

Annie has spent twenty years in search, lead generation and ad tech, on the agency, client and publisher side, and has worked in growth for an AI agent platform. She writes aiagents.org.uk independently: no AI vendor pays for coverage. More about Annie · How guides are made · LinkedIn

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