We already know that the tax season is going to be one crazy month. There are deadlines to achieve, meetings to attend, paperwork to do, taxes to file and then there is the IRS waiting for one single mistake.
This ultimately induces a lot of stress because we are constantly overwhelmed and overworked. No matter how prepared we are, there’s always something which might blow up in our face.
If you’re already dreading the tax season, we might have some tips for you to up your game. We’ve mentioned the easy ways to overcome tax-season stress below.
- Avoid Procrastinating
We always tend to gravitate towards putting off taxes for the last minute. If you wait until the very end to file your taxes, there is a high chance that you’ll miss out on some deductions or tax savings.
This rush can also result in making an error. And the worst thing you can do, if you owe money to the IRS, is to file your taxes late. This induces a penalty and you might end up paying more.
- Be Organized
Being organized helps in maintaining your financial records carefully and accessing them before the tax season hits.
You should investigate your tax documents every quarterly and make sure you have all receipts and everything else in place. You can also try clearing your other engagements prior to the tax-season and make sure you have a well-organized schedule and time to file your taxes.
- Claim Your Expenses
You should always calculate your expenses and claim your deductions which you’re entitled to. These could include moving, travel, transport, rents, education and other relevant expenses which you’ve made throughout the year.
Keeping a track record of all your expenses and making sure you add them in your forms will ensure you don’t worry about it later.
- File Your Taxes For Free
Every taxpayer is entitled to preparing their own tax returns and e-filing it for free. If you’ve made $62,000 or less, you can easily use the free tax software offered by the IRS.
And if you’ve made more income, you can use Free File Fillable Forms which are electronic versions of the paper forms of the IRS. This will make sure there’s no chances of mis-calculations and human errors.
- Seek Guidance
Preparing your tax by yourself can induce more stress because you’re constantly worried about making an error. The IRS also has some really complicated forms which requires specific details that you might not be able to navigate through.
Seeking professional guidance from a great tax attorney can help that anxiety go away. Since most professionals are highly equipped with all tax-related knowledge and changes, they’ll be able to provide the right guidance.
- Get Some Fresh Air
Keeping ourselves loaded under paperwork inside our houses can result in more stress and lower our oxygen levels. Inadequate oxygen results in lower levels of serotonin which is a necessary chemical that regulates our mood.
To make sure you revive your energy, take a walk, go outside, sit on a bench and breathe some fresh air which will clear your mind.
- Prioritize Your Health
Your health should be your first priority. If you feel exhausted and tired, make sure to take a break every few hours and spend time with family and friends, or watch some movie, listen to music.
Another important thing to take care of is staying hydrated and eating healthy. Make sure you are not skipping meals which might result in lower blood sugar causing more stress.
Make sure you keep a refillable water bottle to take more water and maintain your body’s water balance.
- Try Meditating
If you’re anxious, then you’ll have constant thoughts running through your mind which won’t let you work or even take a break.
Meditation can be the best solution to overcome this anxiety since it helps in reprogramming the brain by working on a deeper level of its functioning. You can try out meditating half an hour during the tax week to be less anxious.
- Move And Stretch Your Body
Sitting and working for a longer period would result in a painful experience. If you’re pressing the deadline for your tax filing and are not comfortable going out. Then you should at least move your body at regular intervals and stretch it for some time.
You can also do some exercise or invest in a self-care routine which will definitely help in relieving some stress.
- Plan A Vacation
Looking forward to something after the tax-season can be the best solution to reduce stress. Planning a vacation on the beach, while soaking up the sun and drinking your favorite cocktail would make everything more bearable in the present tax-season.
We hope these simple tips can help you get through the tax-season anxiety-free and help overcome stress.
