A better way to think about taxes

During a recent Foundation to Financial Freedom group coaching session, I asked a simple question:

Who here wants to pay more tax?

Not a single hand went up - except mine.

The women were surprised. I could almost see the wheels turning in their brain: "Why on earth would she want to pay more tax?" 😯

The answer is simple: If I’m paying more tax, it usually means I’m making more money. 💰

And more money means more freedom, more choice, more breathing room, more security, and more impact.

Let me be clear here.

I don't want to pay more than I owe. I want to take advantage of every deduction and credit available to me.

I want to be tax efficient.

I want to manage my money and wealth wisely.

But if my tax bill is higher because my income is higher, that's not bad news; that's growth.

It means there's more money in my accounts!

And that's where we need a completely different conversation during tax season.

Many women are thinking about taxes the wrong way.

When I say that, I don't mean women are doing something wrong. I mean most of us have been taught to think about taxes in a very narrow, reactive way.

Taxes are seen as annoying and stressful. Something to dread and resent. Something to put off or get through.

And because of that, tax season often becomes a scramble.

You have to go hunting for receipts.

You're trying to remember where you put things. 🤔

You're digging through emails and hoping you didn't miss anything.

You're wondering if you're going to owe money and if so, you're not sure where you'll get those dollars.

All of it feels more stressful than it should.

And it's because the women who feel this way about taxes don't have a system or a process. Often, they've never been encouraged to see taxes as part of wealth building.

The issue is not just taxes. It's identity.

This is where the deeper shift needs to happen.

If you see yourself as someone who's always catching up, always reacting, then tax season becomes one more piece of evidence for that identity.

It's one more thing you haven't done. One more thing hanging over your head. One more reason to feel disappointed in yourself.

But what if you saw yourself differently?

What if you thought of yourself as a Wealth Builder?

A woman who isn't just earning, spending, saving, and occasionally investing money, but a woman who is building a life of financial freedom...

... a woman who is building systems and being intentional with her finances.

Building wealth isn't a reactive process. It takes a clear direction, a proven process, and conscious choices.

Taxes are part of that.

Granted, they're not the most exciting part, but they're nonetheless an integral part.

Here's the thing...

Wealth Builders think differently about taxes.

Wealth Builders don't want to waste money by overpaying on their taxes. They don't ignore deductions, credits, or tax-efficient strategies.

Of course not.

But they also understand that paying tax is often a sign that money is being made.

That matters because more money can mean:

✨ more freedom

✨ more options

✨ more peace of mind

✨ a greater ability to support yourself

✨ a greater ability to support the people you love

✨ a greater ability to invest

✨ a greater ability to give

✨ a greater ability to make an impact

That's why I raised my hand.

Not because I love handing money over to the government, but because I love what it means when more money is coming in.

That's a very different lens.

Tax season is feedback.

One of the reasons tax season matters so much is that it tells an important story.

The way you manage your taxes gives you helpful information about your habits, your organization, your follow-through, and your financial leadership.

If you're willing to look at that honestly, without shame, blame, or judgement, it can help you get better results with your money moving forward.

Here is the question I really want you to sit with:

"What would the woman I’m becoming do differently when it comes to taxes, organization, and wealth?"

Would she wait until the last minute and hope for the best?

Would she leave receipts in a variety of places and then feel panicked in April?

Would she keep avoiding emails, envelopes, and paperwork because it feels unpleasant?

Would she keep telling herself she's just bad at this?

Or would she decide that this is the year she does things differently?

Would she create a simple system and get organized earlier?

Would she handle taxes the way a woman building wealth handles things?

That's the shift.

This is not just about filing a return. It's about who you are becoming.

A few recommendations for this tax season:

I'm not going to turn this into a tax lesson. That's not the point of this email.

But I do want to give you a few practical suggestions that can make this easier.

1. Get your taxes organized in March.

In Canada, the personal tax filing deadline is the end of April. Use March to gather your documents, pull together your receipts, confirm what you need, and get yourself organized.

When you leave it until April, everything feels more stressful than it needs to and you're more likely to miss something.

Get ahead of it now.

2. Create a repeatable system.

We're trying to free your brain to focus on wealth-building activities rather than the day-to-day minutia. Don't make dealing with your taxes something you have to reinvent every year.

Create a simple, repeatable process for yourself.

That might look like:

• one folder for tax documents
• one place for receipts
• one checklist of what you need each year
• one written step-by-step process you can follow next time

The goal is that next year, you're not trying to figure out what to do; you are simply executing.

3. Stop relying on your memory.

If your system depends on remembering where you put things, it's not a system.

Write it down. Create the checklist. Decide where things go. Make it easier for yourself to follow through.

Wealth Builders do not rely on willpower and memory alone. They create support structures and standard operating procedures.

What to do if you're behind on your taxes

If you are behind in submitting your taxes, I want to say this as clearly and compassionately as I can: Avoiding it will not make it better.

I know that may sound obvious, but when something feels overwhelming or stressful, the human response is to look away and avoid it.

The problem is that not filing your taxes can create all kinds of consequences.

You may miss out on benefits, credits, or refunds that are available to you. You may face penalties or interest charges.

And even if the financial consequences are not immediate, the mental and emotional cost is real.

That unfinished task sits there, taking up space in your brain. It reinforces the feeling that you're behind, which is exhausting.

It's one more reason I want women to stop thinking about taxes as some separate, annoying admin task.

This is part of financial wellness and self-leadership.

Wealth Builders deal with things. They don't pretend they're not there. They take the next step.

So if you're behind, let this be your sign. Don't spend another season carrying that burden around in your head.

Get the information you need.

Make a plan.

Ask for help if you need help, but move forward.

This isn't just about taxes.

It's about your identity - who you want to be.

It's about whether you're willing to become a woman who is organized, engaged, informed, and proactive with money.

I encourage you to see yourself as a Wealth Builder and to take the steps that will support your freedom...

... without shame, blame, or judgement.

I also encourage you to stop vilifying taxes.

Wayne Dyer once said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

Get curious and see what happens when you start viewing taxes as a sign that you're growing and building more wealth, while of course employing every possible tax-optimization strategy available to you.

I, for one, can't wait to pay a LOT more taxes over the remainder of my life. There is a lot more abundance to be had.

Are you joining me in this? Let me know.

 And if you need my help, set up a free Clarity Call and let's chat. I've got your back.