How to Survive Tax Time Stress

The deadline is fast approaching and you keep putting it off. You need to get the taxes done and behind you but can’t seem to move forward. Your stress level continues to climb. Here are some tips to deal with the tax time blues.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Patience
• Common sense
• Paper
• Forms
• Calculator or software program

1. Hire someone to help you. Even if you buy the latest edition of TurboTax, that will help you get a handle on your tax situation. The software is easy to use and prevents you for making stupid math errors or--even better--missing out on deductions and credits you could have claimed.
2. Be honest. Don’t fudge anything and you won’t have to worry about sleepless nights if you later get notified that you are being audited by the IRS.
3. Organize your stuff. Even if you threw it all in a pile all year long, now is the time to get in there and sort, save or stuff in the trashcan. It is best to leave all your paperwork, bills and records in one area of the house like a desk or corner hutch. Even if you need to hunt through stuff, you know where to hunt.
4. If you are afraid to do your taxes because you will owe lots of money, you need a game plan now. Figure out how much you owe and start saving week-to-week to get the money together. The sooner you start saving, the better. When you get it paid, fix your tax withholding so this doesn’t happen again.
5. Give yourself a break. Go to the gym or get a manicure, anything you enjoy that relaxes you. Keep in the back of your mind that this too will pass. You will figure it out, find the money and pay the sum. And if all else fails, pray--a lot.
6. In the end, look back on this experience and decide for yourself what you could have done differently so you can reduce the stress level next year when the tax man cometh again.

Tips & Warnings

• You can change your tax withholding with your employer as often as you need to. It is always better to have a bit too much withheld then too little.
• Get volunteer help. Many IRS offices will give you free tax assistance. The 800 number and the website are also good sources of free information.