Facing fears is always easier said than done.
I finally faced my fear of the tax office and spent 2 hours on the phone ironing out a small thing that had been following me for ages.
Fear of the tax office is a common fear. We often use the expression “The Tax Man” as if one person is waiting to pounce if we make ourselves visible. My grandfather’s tax affairs took over 30 years to iron out posthumously. There was nothing wrong; he died very suddenly and was not the most organised person.
Even though he died long before I was born, I subconsciously inherited this fear of dealing with the tax office. Generational and ancestral trauma is real. We inherit memories at a cellular level.
My tax returns are always submitted on time and usually in advance. I am always 100% compliant but one small outstanding issue had been dragging on for months. I kept putting it off, then I tried to call without success. I then tried to raise an online enquiry that fell into a black hole.
Finally, I decided to call in and just get it done. The person I spoke to was not able to help but gave me the right phone number to ring. I installed myself in a coffee shop, got comfy, put my headphones in and sat on the phone with a helpful, patient woman in the right section. I had been dealing with the wrong section all along.
She explained everything to me, talked me through what I needed to do, used clear language and offered me helpful advice. She also made me feel good about myself. She said that she deals with tax experts every day who have questions. No one knows everything.
I had been beating myself up that I should know how to figure this out, I should know how to manage my tax affairs, I should be able to navigate the website, I should be able to understand the calculations, I should be 100% compliant and up to date.
The reality is that this was a tiny oversight that had just been overlooked in error. No one was at fault. I did not owe any money. I use an accountant to help.
It’s safe to ask for help, it’s safe to hire a team, it’s safe not to know everything. It’s safe to face your fears. It’s safe to set yourself up for success and have good systems in place. My favourite success system for money management is YNAB.
We cannot see our blind spots. If you feel you need to reach out, why not book in for a chat?
