I recently posted a TikTok about ADHD Tax, & it quickly gained attention. Clearly, it resonated - but I couldn’t possibly fit everything into one short social media post. So, I wanted to dive deeper here & really unpack what ADHD Tax is, why it matters, & what we can do about it.

What is ADHD tax?

“ADHD Tax” isn’t an actual tax you pay to the government. It’s the hidden costs - financial, emotional, & practical - that come with living in a world not designed for ADHD brains. It shows up in late fees, forgotten subscriptions, impulse buys, misplaced items, & even in lost opportunities when executive functioning gets in the way.

For example:

• Forgetting to cancel a free trial & suddenly being charged £50.

• Rebought chargers, water bottles, or planners because the original “safe place” you put them vanished.

• Paying higher fees for same-day delivery or last-minute travel because planning ahead was too overwhelming.

Each moment on its own might seem small - but add them up, & the cost (financial & emotional) is huge.

The emotional cost

It isn’t just about money. ADHD Tax eats away at self-esteem. Every late bill or forgotten appointment can spiral into guilt & frustration. You know you’re capable, yet the system seems stacked against you. This emotional toll is just as real as the overdraft fees

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Why does this happen?

ADHD affects executive functioning: the brain’s ability to plan, prioritise, & regulate attention. That means remembering deadlines, organising tasks, & resisting impulses can feel like climbing uphill. & because our world is built around “neurotypical” ways of functioning, ADHD brains are constantly forced to work harder to keep up.

What ADHD tax looks like for me

To be completely transparent, ADHD Tax has affected almost every area of my adult life. For me, it’s looked like:

• Living in my £1,000 overdraft for almost 10 years. I’ve only managed to climb out of it maybe three times - each time racking up more fees.

• Being in & out of debt my whole adult life. Right now, I’m sitting at around £3,000 of debt.

• Forgetting to buy train tickets, then being fined… and forgetting to pay the fine, which eventually led to court & thousands of pounds to pay back on a payment plan.

• Having a horrific credit score for years. It’s only recently crept back up to 464 after years of trying to rebuild.

• Dropping & smashing multiple phones.

• Losing my phone in Turkey (&, to make it worse, also losing a bag full of essential items while there).

• Paying out thousands in late payment fees over the years.

• Spending 17 years trying to learn to drive. The good news? Thanks to finally getting ADHD meds, I now own a car & I’m ready to pass my test! 

And honestly… the list could go on.

What can actually help?!

The goal isn’t to eliminate ADHD Tax completely - life happens! But there are strategies to reduce it:

• Automation: Set bills to auto-pay & subscriptions to send you reminders.

• Visual cues: Use planners, wall calendars, or sticky notes where you’ll definitely see them.

• One-stop baskets: Keep duplicates (chargers, pens, keys) in a go-to spot so you spend less time & money replacing things. 

• Body doubling: Work alongside a friend (in person or virtually) to stay on task when sorting out bills, planning trips, etc - two brains are better than one!

• Anchor habits: Link new tasks to habits you already do, like checking your budget whilst drinking your morning coffee.

• Money buffers: If possible, keep a "forgetting fund" or small savings pot for unexpected ADHD tax moments.

• Tech tools: Use Smart assistants (Alexa, Siri) to set spoken reminders (for things like paying bills or submitting your meter reading!).. so you can't ignore as easily.

• Community tips: Learn from others with ADHD. Often, the best hacks come from people living it daily.

Final thoughts

ADHD Tax is real, & it’s not just about being “forgetful” or “disorganised.” It’s the real-life cost of navigating a world that doesn’t always accommodate ADHD. The more we talk about it, the less shame people feel - & the more strategies we can share to lighten the load.

Have you paid the ADHD Tax recently? Share your experiences with us! Email, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok - Whatever works for you.