To understand the tax stress Canadians are experiencing, Spergel ran the Canadian Tax Stress Survey 2026. With 210 responses, the story is clear: many Canadians are bracing to owe money, a meaningful share are feeling real anxiety, and a growing number expect they’ll need a payment plan to manage what they owe.
The big takeaway: “I’m worried I’ll owe, and I can’t afford it”. Instead of confusion or paperwork, the top driver of stress was affordability. Over half of respondents selected “Worried I’ll owe money or can’t afford to pay” as a key reason tax season feels stressful. In other words, absorbing the cost is a bigger fear than owing. Many expect to owe and some expect the bill to be significant. In this survey, about 1/3rd of respondents said they expect they’ll owe money when they file. Among those expecting to owe, a meaningful portion estimate balances in the $1,000+ range, with a smaller but important group expecting $2,500+, $5,000+, and even $10,000+.
Some respondents said tax stress is affecting daily decisions and wellbeing. A portion reported cutting back on essentials like groceries, rent, or utilities due to tax stress. Others reported lost sleep or persistent worry. When Canadians think they’ll owe, the most common answer is a payment arrangement. Nearly as many respondents said they don’t know yet, another signal that uncertainty and cash-flow instability are central to the tax stress experience.
What Canadians say would actually help next year
When asked what would reduce tax stress, respondents were remarkably consistent: they want clarity and predictability. The top request was a simple way to estimate whether they’ll owe or get a refund. Other high-demand supports included: someone to talk to, payment-arrangement guidance, and a straightforward checklist.
Comparative table: the headline stats
| What we asked | What Canadians told us |
| Expect to owe money when they file | ~1 in 3 |
| Not sure what will happen when they file | ~1 in 5 |
| Average tax stress score (1–5) | 3.15 |
| Worried they’ll owe money or can’t afford to pay | 53% (111 of 210) |
| Cut back on essentials due to tax stress | 24% (51 of 210) |
| Lost sleep or persistent worry due to tax stress | 21% (45 of 210) |
| If they owe, most common plan is a payment arrangement | 27% |
| “I don’t know yet” how they’ll cover a tax bill | 21% |
(All figures come from the survey results export of 210 respondents. Multi-select questions are reported here as “% of respondents” for clarity.)
“Behind tax stress is often a cash-flow reality, Canadians are worried about a bill they can’t absorb. The earlier someone seeks clarity, the more options they typically have.” Gillian Goldblatt, Partner, Licensed Insolvency Trustee, msi Spergel Inc.
A real client’s story: Jordan
Jordan, a former client, described the turning point simply: “Finding Spergel was a turning point for me.”
In Jordan’s case, Spergel helped reduce his tax debt through reassessment and appeals, and put a manageable plan in place so the stress finally eased.
Click here to read more.
What to do if tax season is causing stress
If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It can help to understand your options early, even if you are not ready to take action.
Depending on your situation, solutions may include:
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- A quick “tax check” before you file: what you owe today, what you expect to owe, and what you can realistically afford monthly.
- Getting clarity on CRA payment arrangements (how they work, what payments might look like, and what to do if you can’t pay in full).
- Catching up on unfiled returns so you can reduce uncertainty and avoid compounding penalties and interest.
- A consumer proposal (can reduce monthly payments and stop interest), in cases where tax debt and other debts have become unmanageable.
- Support tools like checklists and budgeting trackers to plan for a balance owing and avoid surprises next year.
Spergel offers free, confidential 30-minute consultations to help Canadians understand their options and next steps, without judgment.
