Tax season has officially begun! This is the time of the year when financial triggers can soar. However, addressing what makes “you” tick will help you be less reactive and more productive.
Recognizing Your Tax Triggers
What are your triggers? Hmm, this can be tricky as it may be an automatic response and you may not even be aware of it. However, if you notice you are irritable, jumpy, or lashing out, these are signs that something deeper is occurring. Pay attention to your responses, thoughts, and emotions. When you hear or see the word “taxes,” what does this word mean to you? Where in your body do you feel the word “taxes?” In reality, it’s just a word, but what’s your tax story? Listen closely, so you can begin to challenge and detach from your tax season narrative.
Finding Your Center
Take some time to consider: What relaxes you? I’m sure, with all the hype of self-care, you may now know your relaxation techniques. But do you actually practice them? If you don’t know what calms you down, now is a good time to explore.
Method: Your Path to Peace
Here is a centering practice you can begin implementing today. A method that becomes your daily ritual for maintaining clarity throughout the day. This isn’t a mere mindfulness technique. It’s an approach to living that you apply from the moment you wake until you rest. By consistently using your chosen method, you learn to dissolve scattered thinking by bringing your full attention to your method. When you experience financial disharmony, this practiced method becomes your natural response.
Three Simple Methods for Present-Moment Awareness
- Stop – awareness of the body as a whole
- Breathe – awareness of breath
- Recite – repeat a simple phrase
The first method is subtle, but effective. Stopping allows you to become fully aware and begin to connect your body and mind. This reestablishes awareness and diminishes mental activity. However, if the mind is too scattered, we may need a more tangible approach.
The second method is concrete because it directs your attention to the breath. Awareness of breath will relax your body and help you regain stability. This enables you to make a wiser decision.
The third method requires extra effort. Reciting a simple phrase removes the train of thoughts and concentrates the mind to the task at hand.
You can also add counting to the breath or recitation. This provides an additional level of tangibility. Simply count to 10 and start again. For even more tangibility, count in odd or even numbers up to 20.
Benefits of Mindful Tax Preparation
By being mentally prepared, you will reduce anxiety and do less rushing. This leads to a more peaceful tax season. This will produce more accuracy in your numbers, which may result in:
- A bigger refund or reduction in balance due
- An earlier refund
- More time to prepare to make a payment
Essential Tax Checklist
Here are the key documents you’ll need to gather
2024 Tax Return check your return to see what documents you gave your accountant.
Employment and Business Income
- W-2 Forms This will come from your employer. Remember, if you worked for more than one company, you will receive one for each. It should come by the end of January.
- 1099-Misc If you received miscellaneous income such as rent or prizes.
- 1099-NEC If you freelanced or have a business, you will receive one if you earned more than $600 per client.
Investment and Interest Income
- 1099-DIV If you have investments, this form will list any income as dividends received.
- 1099-INT If you received interest above $10, you will receive it from your bank or any financial institution.
- 1099-R If you made a withdrawal or early distribution from your retirement account, you will receive this form from the brokerage company.
- 1099-B If you sold stock, you will receive this form from the brokerage company.
Deductions and Credits
- 1098 If you have a mortgage, you will receive it from your mortgage company and it will include interest and possibly property taxes paid, not all mortgage companies include property taxes.
- 1098-E If you paid student loans, this form will list the interest paid.
Mindful Reminder
Tax season can bring about your tax stories, making it difficult to file timely taxes. Start implementing your method today. By the time you file, you will have an established method practice. Make time for self-care and truly nourish yourself during this time. Remember to do mindful check-ins and if you experience procrastination read Procrastination & Taxes. Tax season will soon be over and you have the choice to make peace with it.
Free Tax Preparation Resources
New York City offers free tax prep services
- In person help – sit with a volunteer who can help you
- Drop off service – drop off your information and pick up your return later
- Virtual tax prep – go online and someone will help you
- Assisted self-prep – tax prep by yourself or someone will assist you
Create and account with the IRS to access:
- Tax records
- Make or view payments
- View or create payment plans
- View your balance due
- Request account transcript
Need to check your refund status?
Federal refund
- Call: (800) 829-1040
- Callers who deaf or hard of hearing
- TTY/TDD: (800) 829-4059
NY State refund
- Call: (518) 457 5149
- Dial 711 for NY Relay Service
Seeking Help
If you are depressed, anxious, or have panic attacks, find a health professional who can help you.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National can provide free referrals. They are open 24/7, 365 days a year.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact 988 for help. The calls are free, confidential, and they are open 24/7 to help you navigate difficult emotions.
Attend a Workshop
If you are interested in attending a live webinar on improving your relationship with money, please visit my events.
Related Posts
IRS (N.D.). Your online account. Retrieved from: https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account
IRS (N.D.). IRS free file: do your taxes for free. Retrieved from: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free
IRS (N.D.). IRS free file: guided tax software. Retrieved from: https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile
IRS (N.D.). Let us help you. Retrieved from: https://www.irs.gov/help/let-us-help-you
NYC (2025). File your taxes with nyc free tax prep. Retrieved from: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-your-taxes.page
New York State (N.D.). Check your refund status online – anytime, anywhere! Retrieved from: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/refund.htm
Hargrave, M. (2024). 1099-MISC vs. 1099-NEC: differences and filing deadlines. Retrieved from: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/taxes/1099-misc-vs-1099-nec/
WS. (2025). How to prepare for tax season 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.westernsouthern.com/personal-finance/how-to-prepare-for-tax-season
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