It comes at night, bolting you from your sleep. No matter how hard you try, you can’t put the thought of this monster from your mind. But this Halloween, the most horrifying monster isn’t a ghost.

It isn’t a goblin, a ghoul, or a witch. You can’t see this creature, or even touch it. It’s not in your closet or under your bed. It isn’t in a book, no matter which one you’ve read. It’s found where you least expect it; you can never relax. For the monster that haunts you this Halloween is TAX.

A bit (candy) corny? Maybe. But true? Absolutely.

You see, the tax monster haunts people year-round and has led to more sleepless nights than Freddie Krueger ever could. It comes in many forms: a letter or summons from the IRS, a tax bill, even the discovery of an error on your tax return. The tax monster is always there, and if you aren’t careful, it can haunt you and your family for the rest of your life.

But it doesn’t have to.

When it comes to fighting the tax monster, the team at StopIRSDebt is Van Helsing and the Brothers Grimm combined. We’ve fought the tax monster many times before, and we know all his tricks. By now, the tax monster no longer scares us—and we want the same for you.

So here are three of the most common fears about taxes, along with the spells you can use to get rid of them once and for all.

Tax Spells for Halloween

Tax Monster Fear #1: The Fear of Being Audited

You never know when the tax monster will strike your mailbox. You read about celebrities from Wesley Snipes to Nicolas Cage, and you say, “That could happen to me.” The fear of being audited is incredibly common—even for folks with simple tax returns. The idea of the tax monster knocking on your door as an IRS auditor is haunting.

Recommended Spell: Learn About the Audit Process

While the fear of being audited is one of the tax monster’s favorite tools, it’s about as rare as a real Friday the 13th. In fact, there are many misconceptions about IRS audits that keep people in fear. To dispel the tax monster, you need to learn about the audit process (and fortunately, we’ve written all about it here).

For example, did you know that the IRS might just be auditing you so they can see your receipts associated with a specific deduction? Yeah, it can be that simple. Learning about the auditing process is the best way to stop being scared.

Tax Monster Fear #2: The Fear of a Tax Debt

One of the tax monster’s greatest powers is keeping you afraid of tax debt. You’ve heard the horror stories: $10,000, $50,000, even $1 million. These totals are more than enough to strike fear in the heart of the average taxpayer. The thought of a massive tax debt is downright horrifying.

Recommended Spell: Build a Team

We won’t lie: tax debt is serious business. But the Ghostbusters could never have defeated Gozer without Dr. Peter Venkman, just like they wouldn’t have survived without Winston, Raymond, or Spengler. To cross the streams and vanquish your tax debt, you need a team who can hit your tax debt from all angles.

You may not be a tax expert, but there are people out there who are. Whether that means filing old amendments or negotiating on your behalf, experts who know what they’re doing can dispel the tax monster in a flash!

Tax Monster Fear #3: The Fear of Tax Preparation

The tax monster thrives during tax season, when millions of Americans spend countless nights pouring over paperwork and scouring their homes for receipts. You’ve watched as your coworkers, friends, neighbors, and even spouse slowly transform. As February rolls around, you wonder: Is there any way to avoid becoming a zombie, too?

Recommended Spell: Get Organized

The tax monster knows you’re terrified of becoming a tax season zombie, but the tax preparation process is only as challenging as you make it. And transforming into a zombie each tax season isn’t required. The vaccine, our final spell, saves you from becoming a zombie: getting organized.

Instead of spending countless nights stressing over your taxes, refocus your attention on staying organized throughout the year. Just spend a few hours each month organizing your receipts and files. Whether you file yourself or enlist a tax prep service, staying organized will save you from becoming a tax season zombie and remove the tax monster’s grip on your braaaaiiinnsss.

Defeat the Tax Monster This Halloween

The tax monster is scary. And if you let it, it will haunt you every single day of your life. But now that you know how the tax monster preys on your fears, you can start to fight back. Consider these spells as your secret weapons—your silver bullet and wooden stake—ready for use, no matter which form your tax fears take. And this Halloween, or even next Tax Day, you can finally tell the tax monster, “Be gone!”