TORONTO – April 30: a date “etched” into Canadians’ calendars, not because it is a holiday or a special occasion, but because it marks the notorious tax payment deadline. A day that triggers anxiety and, in some cases, even physical symptoms, according to a study conducted by Citizen Relations Intelligence between March 11 and March 17, 2026, on a sample of 1,504 Canadian adults.
According to the research, as the crucial tax deadline approaches, tax season is increasingly becoming a significant source of stress for Canadians, affecting not only mental health (55% of respondents report feeling stressed before even starting to fill out their tax forms), but also physical well-being. One in five people—20% of the population—reported experiencing headaches, nausea, or an accelerated heart rate linked to tax filing anxiety.
The phenomenon, dubbed the “Tax Season Scaries,” particularly affects younger generations. While overall 38% of Canadians say they experience this period with a sense of dread, the figure rises to 54% among members of Generation Z (under 30). This anxiety often leads to procrastination: nearly three in ten people (29%) admit they delayed filing because they felt “overwhelmed by the situation,” a share that climbs to 48% among Gen Z. In contrast, once the process is completed, most taxpayers experience a clear improvement in well-being. Indeed, 73% say they feel better immediately after submitting their return, suggesting that the “submit” moment represents a genuine psychological release.
The study also highlights a shift in workers’ expectations toward employers. While many corporate wellness programs already include benefits such as gym memberships or mental health apps, more than half of Canadians (52%) believe tax filing software should also be eligible for reimbursement. This view is even more widespread among Millennials (aged 30–45) and Gen Z, with over 65% in agreement.
In light of these findings, Intuit Canada—the company behind the tax software “TurboTax,” which helps users file their tax returns—encourages a rethinking of how tax season is approached, suggesting it should also be viewed as a form of self-care. In a context marked by rising living costs, says Gah-Yee Won, Interim Country Lead of the Consumer Group at Intuit Canada, “the administrative burden of taxes is increasingly linked to burnout and productivity loss and for this reason we are encouraging Canadian employers to modernize their definition of ‘wellness’ to include financial health. By supporting employees with the tools needed to navigate tax season, businesses can help alleviate the seasonal stress that impacts nearly half of the workforce.”
Photo above by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash; in the pic below, “TurboTax” truck in Toronto (photo: Josh Zuckerman)
