The top tax apps company tax return make it simple to identify deductions and credits you may not have otherwise noticed. They’ll assist with e-filing your return so that you get the maximum refund possible.
Some apps provide year-round tax advice and support from a tax expert. TurboTax provides this with its TurboTax Live service, while H&R Block’s Expert Assist online tax help service includes screen sharing and photo capture features.
1. Track your expenses
The ideal tax apps can assist you in identifying potential deductions and credits for your business expenses. They save receipts, link to bank accounts and credit cards, and track mileage.
Some of these apps small business tax also have the feature to scan receipts and store them in the cloud, making it ideal for small businesses who don’t want to maintain paper receipts.
Neat is another excellent option, enabling users to scan, upload, organize and categorize their receipts. The app utilizes Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology for extracting information from scanned images.
This expense tracking software is ideal for businesses with multiple employees and that need to manage a lot of receipts and documents. Furthermore, it offers bank-level security encryption on its files.
2. Find deductions
When filing your taxes, whether you do it yourself or hire a tax professional, it’s essential to identify potential deductions and credits. Doing so could save money on your tax bill in the long run.
Some of these apps will even automatically import your W-2s and other tax documents into the app, so all you have to do is enter information when filing taxes.
Another effective way to stay organized is using an app that takes pictures of documents and converts them into downloadable files for later retrieval. Popular options include Neat (free), Stride Tax ($19.99 billed monthly for unlimited trips, with the first 40 trips free).
If you’re uncertain how to deduct certain items from your taxes, use the IRS’ mobile app for assistance. This app also enables you to request tax records and verify the status of your refund request.
3. Check your refund status
Tax refunds provide many people with an opportunity to make significant financial progress each year, such as paying down debt, saving for a house or purchasing a car. As such, many are eager to check the status of their refund once processed.
The good news is that many popular tax apps provide a tool to check your refund status. TurboTax, for instance, has an app available in both Google Play and App Stores that you can access directly.
The IRS’ mobile app, IRS2go, allows you to make payments with debit or credit card and monitor your refund status. You can also check its progress and estimate when it may arrive.
You can check your state income tax refund status using tools on the taxing authority’s website. However, not all states have a single system for tracking returns, so you’ll have to locate the appropriate site for your jurisdiction.
4. Stay organized
When it comes to managing your tax documents, organization is key for filing taxes on time. Instead of searching through receipts and other paperwork, create an organized system that keeps track of expenses throughout the year.
Create a Magic Envelope that’s located in an accessible place such as your office, purse or car. Sort receipts according to category – such as personal and business expenses – so they are all organized logically for tax season.
To make the process of digitizing paper receipts simpler, consider using apps that can scan them and store them digitally. Some even do OCR (Optical Character Recognition), extracting information off photos without you having to type it in manually.
Conclusion
These apps not only simplify the organization of your receipts, but they can also alert you to potential deductions and credits that could be due you. Doing this ahead of time could save you from a costly bill next year.