Question 1

What is the neurodivergent tax?

Accepted Answer

The neurodivergent tax refers to the extra hidden costs that people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent conditions pay throughout their lives. This includes late fees from forgotten bills, impulse purchases, forgotten subscriptions, food waste, lost items, convenience premiums, and health-related costs.

Question 2

How much is the average ADHD tax per year?

Accepted Answer

The ADHD tax varies significantly between individuals, but studies and surveys suggest it can range from £1,000 to £5,000+ per year in the UK. Common costs include late fees (£200-500/year), impulse purchases (£500-2000/year), forgotten subscriptions (£300-600/year), and food waste (£400-1000/year).

Question 3

How can I reduce my neurodivergent tax?

Accepted Answer

Strategies to reduce your neurodivergent tax include: setting up automatic payments for bills, using spending alerts and budgeting apps, regularly auditing subscriptions, meal planning with simple recipes, using item trackers for commonly lost items, and working with tools designed for neurodivergent minds like ASTI.

Question 4

Is the neurodivergent tax real?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the neurodivergent tax is a well-documented phenomenon in the ADHD and neurodiversity community. It describes the real financial impact of executive function challenges, including difficulties with time management, impulse control, organisation, and memory that are common in ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions.

The Neurodivergent Tax Calculator