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Subscribe to RSSNothing may be certain but death and taxes, but new research warns that a higher risk of fatal car crashes on the day of the IRS deadline might be one way the two get combined.
Matt Rourke / AP file
A taxpayer hands off his return at a drive-up postal drop in 2006. New research suggests that the risk of fatal car crashes jumps by 6 percent on the day of the IRS deadline.
More people die in auto accidents on income tax day in the U.S. than on other comparable days -- about 13 more per day, in fact, according to Canadian researchers who studied 30 years of data.
The pressure of the looming Internal Revenue Service tax deadline -- and the fact that about 20 percent of all taxpayers wait until the last minute to file -- may contribute to a 6 percent higher risk of dying as a driver, passenger or even a pedestrian on tax day, which this year is next Tuesday, April 17.
“All of a sudden there’s one source of stress that’s onerous, synchronized, repeated and applies to a huge community,” said Dr. Donald A. Redelmeier, an internist and researcher at the University of Toronto known for reporting the risk of auto crash deaths tied to cell phones, the Super Bowl and U.S. election days, among other topics.
In the new study, Redelmeier and his colleague, Christopher B. Yarnell, both of Sunnybrook Research Institute, reviewed U.S. tax and traffic fatality data from 1980 to 2009.
No question, tax time is stressful for many of those who file 141 million individual returns, according to IRS figures. Elaine Smith, a “master tax adviser” for H&R Block, a leading tax preparation firm, says there’s no shortage of tense taxpayers in early April.
“I just met this morning with two very frantic people,” she said Monday. “My schedule is packed the rest of the day with frantic people.”
The most pressure comes from simply putting off the chore until the last minute, Smith says. Other folks are frazzled because of changes in their tax situation -- a new house, retirement, a child leaves home.
“They’ve always been getting a refund and they’re afraid this year that they’re going to owe,” she said.
Apparently, that stress translates into more traffic accidents, according to Redelmeier’s research, published in a research letter in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
His team compared traffic deaths on 30 tax days with fatal accidents on control days in the same years, both one week before and one week after the IRS deadline. Of some 19,541 crashes, there were 404 deaths during the three decades.
“We indirectly minimize for differences in gas prices, vehicle technology, prevailing laws, health care access and other confounding contributors,” Redelmeier explained.
They found that there were 213 fatal crashes on the average control days -- but 226 crashes on tax days.
What’s more, Redelmeier says that although the data focused on deaths associated with the higher risk, the fallout likely extends to non-fatal accidents and property damage as well.
“The average crash causes about $8,000 worth of damage,” Redelmeier said. “The 6 percent increase in risk would amount to about $40 million in societal costs due solely to the surge of crashes on tax day.”
That’s equal to the average tax burden of about 5,000 Americans, he added.
The study found that the higher risk was most apparent during the past two decades and in people younger than 65. While one might have expected the advent of electronic filing to lower the risk in recent years because taxpayers didn’t have to drive to the post office to mail returns, that didn’t happen, Redelmeier said.
“Electronic filing is not making this go away,” he said. “And we don’t think it’s due to increased amounts of driving.”
Instead, the researchers speculate that it’s the overall stress of the day, perhaps combined with lack of sleep and what he called “less tolerance of hassles.”
“Stressful deadlines lead to driver distraction and human error,” he said.
A spokesman for the IRS says the agency is sympathetic to the plight of harried taxpayers and offers tools and advice on a federal website to help.
“We do everything we can to make it less stressful,” said Anthony Burke, an agency spokesman.
Still, that’s small comfort, even for people who’ve already filed their 1040s. Redelmeier notes that it’s hard to escape the extra risk of fatal crashes. Even if you’re not worked up over taxes, the guy in the next lane might be.
The solution, he offered, is for all harried taxpayers to take a deep breath before they hit the road on April 17.
Buckle seatbelts, slow down, pay attention to driving -- not to distracting thoughts about how much you might owe Uncle Sam.
“Almost all of these fatalities could have been prevented with a small change in driver behavior,” Redelmeier said. “There is no way to avoid stress, but there are countless ways to make a stressful situation worse.”
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Leave a Comment:
Twenty percent of people don't file until the last minute? Haven't these guys heard of TurboTax? Either that or they have hella-complicated returns.
Another reason to file ASAP - identity theft. Those cons out there can try all they want to file using my information but guess what? I filed the last week of January, just like I did the past few years.
January? Man, I didn't even get my W2's until late Feb...
CJ . . . . .
Unless they have changed the laws, employers have until January 31 to mail out the W2's .
If this is the same employer year after year, you may want to notify the IRS.
Think if you have to pay why file early wait till the last minute. The government is just going to throw your money away anyway.
It would be a more valid study if they counted the rich pulling their cash out of US currency and hiding it offshore--dying in a plane or boat wreck. Tax them as Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton did. If you think the wealthy aren't a drag on resources, have your teenage child go missing and watch the response. With the rick, it's a manhunt--with the poor, they're called runaway.
You can bet the silk suit attorneys and the top notch accountants can find every loophole that exists. I bet they aren't breaking their necks to get that tax money in on time.
Death and taxes!
Thanks IRS
Since government is so concerned with our driving safety,(air bags, mandatory insurance, side impact air bags, 30 mph bumpers, speed limits, safety glass, crush zones, collapsing steering columns, etc.) now is the time to eliminate a known killer. Income Taxes.
I wish they'd make 30 mph bumpers...
Or people could have a little "personal responsibility" as you types like to call it and file early, so they're not stressed out.
I love how that theory just collapses on itself...
Too many people forget that driving is a privilege. Instead of driving recklessly over personal issues, learn to use driving as a relaxation period.
Does MSNBC really have nothing better to post? People reading this are going to be afraid they'll die on tax day now. SMH
It's not the IRS's fault, it's the fault of the bozos who wait until the last minute to do their taxes. They know when it's due, SO DO IT.
Did they get payed to do this study? Who would know if it's right. I think they should give me $450,000.00 and I'll do another study to make sure they're right. All in favor say I.
They're Canadians it's not our money. At least they aren't like the people we do give our money too having an $800,000 party with it. At least we get a chance to throw out the senate,house and president when they do something stupid these civil servants seem to think we work for them.
One thing that might help with the stress (because let's face it, people will always procrastinate) would be to drastically simplify the filing process. Why would it be so hard to cut down on all the exceptions, credits, loopholes, etc., and maintain a profile of each taxpayer (like they do with Social Security, Medicare, etc.) which will keep up with changes automatically? Make paycheck deduction mandatory, too. Many european countries do this and people seem to really like it.
Oh drat, I just outed my secret love of
European socialismLESS STRESS ABOUT MONEY. Conservatives, ready your pitchforks, but don't forget a bunch of your leaders are arguing for the exact same kinds of tax reforms...CJ im a conservative and i would LOVE to do away with loopholes and have a simplified tax. People always seem to equate republicans with a love for capitalism, ie corporations. Obviously, corporations DO need some controls (like environmental protection laws), or theyll take advantage of whatever they can. More than anything, global trading and NAFTA has helped corporations rise to the positions they are in today. Renounce NAFTA, introduce a flat tax, and get rid of the IRS.
This is how much you made this is how many in the family subtract so much for each member multiply the rest by this percent send it in. I'm glad I came back to Texas you think federal is confusing try Iowa state income tax.
Simple, ban driving on tax day.
I wonder how many of the deaths are suicides?
What little respect I had for the IRS evaporated when I was audited and raked over the coal for doing everything by the book.
After the audit, the agent told me I kept great records and gave me a clearance. A few weeks later, I got another call from the same agent saying the manager would not allowed the case to be closed and wanted additional information. In other words, nobody gets off that easily from the IRS. It might ruin the agency's reputation as the world's biggest aholes. They did finally got on a technicality.
Just think PPACA adds 1900 new IRS agents. That should be a reason to hate the bill.
The last speeding ticket I got was when the place I was working was closing, so everyone was losing their jobs and I saw a job I qualified for and applied for it, but the closing date on the job was the same day I was filling out the application. I needed to get it postmarked on that date and since I wanted to know what I told them in case I got an interview, I tried to make a Xerox copy of the document but the three Xerox machines I checked out at the local quickie marts were all broke down and I got a speeding ticket running around trying to get a copy and get the application in. This is similar to getting the taxes in on the last day I suppose.
You are soooooooooo lucky!!!! You just got a visit from Mr.Murphy!!!!!!!!!
Just finished mine - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH Money back! Keno table.... Everybody get out my way.... I'm flush for a few days...
I like how some people enjoy getting money "back" in the form of a tax refund. This means that you're happy giving the government a free loan. On the other, if you owe taxes, you're getting the free loan from the government. It's no wonder things like pet rocks can succeed in America.
And I think the people who criticize it, like you, are stupid and failing to understand somethign. Most people (probably you equally included), for whatever reason-it matters not-have a hard time saving money. So that tax refund is their equivalent of forcing themselves to save money. Then get a lump sum "withdrawal", so to speak, and pay off a credit card or two.
Actually, it's smart.
Are you really dumb enough to think that the extra $10 or $15 here and there that the person would otherwise get on their paycheck, they would go out and buy stocks and bonds and investments? of course not. But the extra $2000 they get in January definitely does them good...it's a proven thing.
Tax refund time and consumer spending/saving/pay-down-debt is a proven fact. But I highly doubt you could find any data to support your theory that people who claim more exemptions, and get more back on their paycheck, actually invest that money.
therefore, I think it's a nifty tool for middle class america, and you're a fool for criticizing it.
In my case much better than trying to scramble for the money I don't have to give the IRS. Actually in my working class group it was how we got new used cars to replace the ones falling apart.
Perhaps those unable to manage their money deserve to have it taken away from them. I'd agree that this may well benefit everyone involved, especially the government.
Constitutionally, the tax filing deadline is not set in stone. What a revolution it would spark if the deadline was moved to the day before election day!
Constitutionally, the tax filing deadline is not set in stone. What a revolution it would spark if paycheck deductions were eliminated, and the deadline was moved to the day before election day!
Link between taxes and death? You pay taxes all your friggin life then when you die you pay taxes on your funeral. Sounds like a life long link to me.
Tell me about the stress. This is my 31st tax season working with CPA's, not the IRS. The deadline this year is 4/17/12. For the people who owe, all I can say is file the return, because the failure to file penalty is worse than the failure to pay penalty. You can apply for an installment agreement, but you will pay interest, etc. until it is paid. Be aware if you have an agreement for prior years you would need to roll it into one installment payment so you are not in default, since you are expected to keep up on your Current Years Taxes. They will charge a $48 fee to do it, but it is worth it, before they send you a NastyGram.
I'm sorry, but I can't believe that you are a CPA if you can't follow basic spelling/capitalization rules - and I don't mean typos like my post is probably full of, I mean intentional things that show you are confused about the capitalization of Current Years Taxes
why do people make such a BIG DEAL out of tax day. You DO REALIZE that it's not that HUGE of a deal to be a few days late don't you??????? people are late on other things all the time and dont' hardly seem to notice a $20 penalty here or there. I've been late on my taxes multiple years and it has never bothered me.
in fact, sometimes if you owe thousands of dollars, it's probably worth it financially to be a coulpe months late, and save / pay the money, compared to rushing to do something stupid and borrow it to pay it.
people act like it's do-or-die or something - i dunno, it's just stupid.
There is such a thing as an extension.
another good point. people act really weird about this magical midnight deadline. if you're running that close, chances are you have bigger problems than worrying about a $20 or $30 penalty for filing late. Might as well STOP at that point, take your time and do it right.
late or not..who cares.
I just think the whole discussion is stupid. For all the ways to pay things late, taxes is one thing that matters least. a late payment DOESN'T go on your credit report, or anywhere, and nobody cares about it... so..
....What's the point of this study anyways?
Keeping govt employees busy.
Another study, by those great edumacated college gradumets...Just a dam waste of tax payer dollars period. Higher education my ass.
Our taxes are pi$$ed away here in CA. Lots of people not paying anything but taking all the freebies they can get. Most of them not even supposed to be here. Thanks to employers who love to pay sweat shop wages and don't care who suffers as long as they get their money.