Easing Stress at Tax Time

It’s unlikely that any couple looks forward to April 15. The tax deadline can create tension between the most easygoing spouses. Here, investment adviser and psychologist Victoria Collins gives some tips for how couples can avoid relationship “depreciation” during tax season.

- Break the tax preparation down into manageable, bite-sized pieces. Once you finish a certain category, reward yourself before moving on.

- If you’re the tax preparer, encourage empathy and sympathy in your spouse by assigning him or her small, specific tasks.

- Be understanding if the bulk of tax preparation falls on your spouse’s shoulders. He or she is likely to become grumpy at times from the extra workload. Keep your partner comfortable with a supply of favorite beverages, snacks, soothing music and pain relievers.

- Manage the tension in healthy ways. Eat, sleep and exercise as usual. You will only experience more stress if you fail to follow your regular routine.

- Give yourself permission to be frustrated, but don’t dump your anger on your partner. Blame the IRS instead.

- Don’t procrastinate. Putting the inevitable off will only make you feel worse, and scrambling around during the final days is much more stressful.

- Make strategic plans for the coming year. While your financial records are still on the dining-room table, take the opportunity to analyze your net worth, investments and expenses and set goals. You may come up with ideas that will save you tax money next year.

- Avoid frustrating searches for paperwork next season by setting up 1995 tax files now. As you pay your bills every month, add necessary canceled checks and receipts to the files. Next April, you’ll have most of your records in one place.

- Make record-keeping as easy and informative as possible. Financial management programs such as Quicken make tracking finances a snap and can keep you alerted throughout the year as to where you stand.

- Realize there is a time limit to your suffering.