From a fear of being audited by the IRS to a lack of familiarity with U.S. tax laws, people across the country have expressed a diverse range of emotions as the April 15 federal income tax deadline looms closer, according to findings from a new Adobe survey.
The survey, which polled more than 1,000 Americans to determine how people feel about the upcoming tax season, revealed that only one in four respondents feel confident about filing their taxes, highlighting the high levels of stress and uncertainty experienced during tax season. Twenty percent of respondents said they feel overwhelmed and stressed or completely lost when it comes to taxes.
The survey also reveals the top five concerns taxpayers have during filing season:
- Understanding tax laws (45%)
- Filling out tax forms accurately (45%)
- General financial stress (37%)
- Keeping up with changing tax regulations (32%)
- Calculating deductions and credits (29%)
When asked about their levels of stress regarding the process of organizing their tax documents each year, 37% of respondents said it was “moderately stressful,” followed by 29% who said it was “very stressful.” Other respondents said the process was “slightly stressful” (15%), “not stressful” (12%), and “extremely stressful” (7%).
In addition, one in three people surveyed who have been audited by the IRS got their tax law information from a professional, Adobe said.
The survey also found how generational differences can significantly affect how individuals approach and navigate tax season each year.
For Gen Zers, news outlets (22%) and social media platforms (22%) proved to be key sources for tax learning, while millennials said they rely heavily on news (28%), online forums and communities (22%), and professional advice (17%) for their tax knowledge. Gen Xers still prioritize traditional news sources (36%), while baby boomers lean toward watching or reading the news (23%), government publications (21%), and seeking professional guidance (21%), according to the survey.
Notably, 53% of baby boomer respondents said they prefer to manually organize their tax documents in physical files, while younger generations have embraced the digital era by organizing their documents digitally.

For freelancers and small business owners, tax season carries distinct challenges like navigating through business expenses, deductions, and difficult-to-understand tax regulations.
According to the survey, one in 10 small business owners admit to feeling overwhelmed and stressed when tax season rolls around, and 2% feel utterly lost and need help figuring out where to start regarding taxes.
The top three challenges faced by small business owners during tax season include:
- General financial stress (42%)
- Understanding tax laws (41%)
- Keeping up with changing regulations (37%)
The top three challenges during tax season for freelancers include:
- Filling out tax forms accurately (49%)
- Understanding tax laws (48%)
- Managing general financial stress (42%)
“Freelancers often navigate a complex landscape of deductions, estimated taxes, and varying income sources, making tax preparation even more challenging,” Adobe says in the survey report.
Another issue small business owners and freelancers face is not knowing about incentives or benefits that can cut their taxes. Seventy-three percent of freelancers said they were unfamiliar with tax incentives/benefits specific to their industry or occupation, while 59% of small business owners weren’t familiar with those, according to the survey.

Tax season can also be a challenging time for gig workers, including delivery drivers and independent contractors, who face their own set of unique obstacles, Adobe says. Many gig workers felt relieved by the tax delay on the new payment platform tax, where they won’t have to report amounts below the upcoming $600 limit for the 2023 tax year.
“Despite this, gig workers must be aware that they may still need to file any income received, even if they don’t receive a 1099-K,” Adobe says in the survey report.
Forty-four percent of gig workers said taxation of payment apps, like Venmo and CashApp, was their No. 1 tax season concern, followed by student loan repayment changes (29%) and higher interest rates (23%).
“As gig work continues to rise and digital transactions become increasingly prevalent, embracing digital document organization tools becomes essential for gig workers to navigate tax season easily, ensuring accuracy, compliance with evolving regulations, and ultimately alleviating the stress associated with their tax obligations,” Adobe says.
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