How to rebound from a massive, unexpected tax bill

So, you owe the IRS more than you expected? Don't panic. This is manageable.

Tax surprise.
(Image credit: DragonImages/iStock)

"You're not going to like this," my husband said to me as he completed the final tally on our tax bill. When I took a peek at the computer screen, I was so shocked, I had to sit down. I knew that when we traded our full-time jobs for a life in the gig economy, we'd left the days of getting money back from the IRS. But I wasn't prepared to owe thousands.

We didn't know how to dig ourselves out of our tax debt, but we managed to do it, and we learned some valuable lessons along the way. If you're overwhelmed by the amount you owe, here are some tips to help you rebound from a surprise tax bill.

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Hillary Jackson

Hillary Jackson is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared in Hunker, The Culture Trip, Central Florida Lifestyle, and Orlando Today magazines, among others.