Imposter Syndrome in Tax
Published: 14 Jul 2025
Eric Lay, ATI, Manager at SW Accountants
From Fraud to Friend: Navigating Imposter Syndrome in Tax
Picture this: You walk into a bustling conference centre, filled with seasoned tax professionals who seem to know each other like old friends. Their confidence is palpable, and you can't help but feel like an outsider. You force a few awkward smiles as you navigate through the crowd to your first TTI session on thin capitalisation. As the session begins, the complexity of the content leaves you feeling lost, and the questions from the audience, who appear to be experts, only heighten your anxiety. You start to wonder if you truly belong here. Everyone seems to have a firm grasp, except for you. Welcome to the world of imposter syndrome in tax.
Whether you're just starting out or have been in the game for years, almost everyone has felt the sting of imposter syndrome at some point. But for young tax professionals, it can feel like a constant shadow.
In the office, imposter syndrome can show up in all sorts of ways. Maybe you hesitate to speak up in meetings or during training sessions because you're afraid of saying the wrong thing. Or perhaps you feel anxious about challenging a senior's approach to a client issue, thinking they must know better because of their experience. You might even doubt your ability to handle complex and challenging tax matters.
The nature of tax work, with its intellectual demands and the highly knowledgeable people you'll be surrounded by, can make imposter syndrome even more intense. Tax is complex, academically challenging, and always changing. The professionals in this field are constantly solving intricate problems, maintaining intellectual rigour, and adapting to new developments. As a young tax professional, it's easy to downplay your own expertise when you're surrounded by senior practitioners with years (and likely decades) of experience. You might find yourself agonising over small mistakes or flaws in your work and feeling like you're constantly out of your depth.
But here's the thing.
People who've been in the profession long enough will tell you:
- You won't always know the answer, and that's okay (even Partners don't know everything!). Solving tax problems requires a mix of different perspectives and ways of thinking. It's important to accept that you won't always have the answer, but also recognise that you can solve problems that even the more experienced practitioners might struggle with.
- It's the journey that matters. Everyone makes mistakes, and that's just part of the process. What really counts is how you learn from those mistakes and use them to improve and grow, rather than beating yourself up over them.
- Tax is vast and always changing. You'll be constantly learning, and it's unlikely you'll become an expert in any one area of tax anytime soon.
While imposter syndrome is common among young tax professionals, it doesn't have to stick around once you accept these truths. Here are some strategies to tackle imposter syndrome:
- Acknowledge your feelings. Recognise that imposter syndrome is a common experience in the tax profession and that you’re not alone. By doing so, you can identify when self-doubt starts creeping in, reducing its impact and building resilience.
- Find your community. Remember, you’re not alone. Nearly every young tax professional has experienced imposter syndrome to some degree. Building relationships with others in a similar stage of their career can help boost your confidence. Connect with peers in your firm, network with other tax professionals at TTI conferences, or get involved with the TTI’s Next Generation Tax Discussion Group.
- Develop a “start-up mindset.” This mindset is like a growth mindset, where you recognise that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, learning, and hard work. A start-up mindset goes a step further by challenging you to be comfortable with uncertainty, much like working in start-ups. As tax is vast and ever-changing, you’ll need to embrace uncertainty and take it in stride as you continue to learn and grow.
- Feedback is a gift. Understand that feedback is an opportunity for growth and improvement. Instead of agonising over mistakes or hesitating to speak up for fear of being wrong, reframe them as chances to test your knowledge in tax and take onboard feedback that will make you a better tax practitioner.
Overcoming imposter syndrome in tax won’t happen overnight. It’s an ongoing journey that requires time, resilience, and community. However, once you’ve overcome it, it is the most freeing feeling. You’ll truly see your abilities for what they are, reframe uncertainty as opportunities to improve, and develop authentic relationships with others who understand the challenges of being a young professional in tax.
So, the next time you walk into a conference centre, filled with seasoned tax professionals, remember that you belong there just as much as anyone else. Embrace the journey, learn from each experience, and know that even the most confident-looking professionals have been in your shoes
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