IRS Launches Smartphone App
The IRS on Monday announced the launch of a new application for smartphones: IRS2Go. The application will let taxpayers check on the status of their refunds and get tax tips.
In a press release, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman described the application as showing the IRS’ “commitment to modernizing the agency and engaging taxpayers where they want when they want it.”
To check on their refunds, users will enter their Social Security number, filing status and amount of expected refund. The IRS said that Social Security numbers sent via the app will be masked and encrypted. Taxpayers who e-file should be able to get refund status information within 72 hours of receiving their e-file confirmation e-mail, the IRS said. Taxpayers who paper file will have to wait three or four weeks to check their refund status using the app.
The app will also allow users to sign up to receive daily e-mailed tax tips during tax season (and periodically throughout the rest of the year) and to follow the IRS news Twitter feed (which as of Monday had just over 6,000 followers). The app will also dial various IRS telephone help lines directly.
The IRS2Go app is free. IPhone users can download it from the Apple App Store, and Android users can download it from the Android Market.
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