The Internal Revenue Service is keeping current with consumer technology. Recently they unveiled a smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on their status of their tax refund.
“This new smart phone app reflects our commitment to modernizing the agency and engaging taxpayers where they want when they want it,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “As technology evolves and younger taxpayers get their information in new ways, we will keep innovating to make it easy for all taxpayers to access helpful information. This phone app is a first step for us. We will look for additional ways to expand and refine our use of smartphones and other new technologies to help meet the needs of taxpayers.”
The new app, called IRS2Go gives taxpayers a convenient way of checking on their federal refund. It can be downloaded at the Android Marketplace and the Apple App Store.
In order to check on the status of your federal refund through the new phone app you will need a few basic pieces of information. First, your Social Security number, which will be masked and encrypted for security purposes. Next, the filing status you used on your tax return. Finally, the amount of the refund you expect from your 2010 tax return.
If you e-filed your tax return, the phone app will work within about 72 hours after you receive an e-mail acknowledgement saying the IRS received your tax return. If you filed using a paper tax return, you will need to wait three to four weeks before you can check on your refund status.
Phone app users can also enter their e-mail address to automatically get daily tax tips. Tax Tips are simple, straightforward tips and reminders to help with tax planning and preparation. Tax Tips are issued daily during the tax filing season and periodically during the rest of the year. The updates cover topics such as free tax help, child tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit, education credits and other topics.
Taxpayers can also sign up to follow the IRS Twitter news feed, @IRSnews. IRSnews. The IRSnews tweets provide easy-to-use information, including tax law changes and important IRS programs. For more information on IRS2Go and other new media products, visit www.IRS.gov.
Joseph W. Kenny is a director and shareholder of Hamblett & Kerrigan, P.A. and practices in the areas of estate planning and taxation. He is also a Certified Public Accountant with certification as a Personal Financial Specialist. You can reach Attorney Kenny by email at [email protected].