More Tax Filers Are Going Mobile This Tax Season

As the coronavirus pandemic worsened in the United States earlier this year, the Treasury Department moved the deadline for individual income tax returns to July 15.

From stacks of paperwork to complicated forms, tax preparation offers little to get excited about. Fortunately, modern tax filers can take advantage of smartphones and today’s top-rated apps to make the process faster, easier and more secure. In fact, according to the IRS, nearly 90% of federal tax returns were e-filed in 2019.

All around the country, mobile device users are catching onto efficient and accessible ways to handle their financial matters, including their taxes. According to a recent U.S. Cellular survey¹, 45% of smartphone users regularly maintained their banking and finances through a mobile app in 2019. Mobile banking provides an organized way for users to access their financial information all in one place.

“More people than ever are turning to smartphones and tablets, like the latest iPhone 11 or Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, to file their taxes,” said Nakeita Stewart, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Illinois. “With today’s mobile devices, top-rated apps and a strong network that works when and where you need it, taxpayers can file their taxes quickly and securely from anywhere.”

To stay on top of deductions, estimate payments and monitor filings, U.S. Cellular recommends the following tools for smartphone and tablet users this tax season:

· TurboTax: This free mobile app helps users get their taxes done right anytime, anywhere. Filers take a picture of their W-2, answer a few simple questions and e-file securely. New features to the app include live, one-on-one help with a real accountant, face identification for security and expert review and sign off on all of your tax returns.

· IRS2Go: The official mobile app of the IRS allows users to check their refund status, make a payment, find free tax preparation assistance, and sign up for helpful tax tips.

· MyBlock: Backed by the tax professionals at H&R Block, this app helps users quickly estimate their tax refund, update documents to send to their tax professional, access their previous tax returns, check the status of their federal refund and track credit and debit card spending.

· Expensify: Now filers can stay ahead of the game for next year’s tax season by downloading the Expensify app. This app allows users to track and categorize their personal and business expenses and receipts and creates expense reports quickly and easily. Expensify will let users import their credit card transactions and automatically creates an IRS-guaranteed eReceipt for certain purchases.

¹Between Nov. 20-Dec. 3, 2019, a total of 1,000 online interviews were conducted among a nationally representative sample by Consumer Insights, in partnership with Maritz CX.