If you still haven't done your taxes -- even with the extended April 17 deadline, even though your taxes are pretty simple (no kids, no real estate, no investment income) -- it's time to go mobile.
We tested two new, free tax apps that can help 1040EZ filers put that baby to bed in about 10 minutes. Just grab your W-2 and your phone and read our short guide.
SnapTax by TurboTax will help you "magically" (their word, not ours) file a 1040EZ using a snapshot of your W-2 form and a couple of other forms -- 1099-INT (interest income), 1099-G (unemployment income), or 1098-E (student loan interest). Marketing lingo aside, it was pretty close to having a tax elf.
Just download the app, type in some basic information, and hold your phone steady enough to take a clear shot of your forms. SnapTax automatically copies all that info into your 1040EZ, saving you a lot of data entry time. The interface is clean and simple, and it took eight minutes to scan one W-2, answer a few questions, and file a return.
Our one qualm: The refund/ tax bill seemed accurate enough, but with such a pared-down interface, it's hard to feel 100 percent confident. Would more details have changed the bottom line? It's hard to say -- and hard to care, given that the sheer convenience (and the relief in getting the damn thing done) trumps those niggling concerns. Federal returns: FreeState returns:$20
For iPhone & Android
If SnapTax is the cool kid of smartphone tax return filing, H&R Block is a little more like your uncle the accountant. The slightly more-robust interface takes longer to navigate (Unkie is more conservative and asks more questions), but the idiot-proof W-2-capturing camera feature makes up for it.
Also, unlike SnapTax, you'll have to create a user ID (even if you have an existing H&R Block account), which is annoying. And the questions you have to clear even before starting seem like a pain -- until you consider that the idea is to flag any issues that might qualify you to file a 1040 instead.
Otherwise, the steps were similar to SnapTax's (as was the refund/bill). But H&R Block lets you file a state return free through April 17, which is a nice bonus.Federal returns: FreeState returns: Free through April 17, $28 thereafter
For iPhone and Android -- both apps say they guarantee your best refund, but they can't guarantee you won't fat-finger your way into an audit. Proceed with caution.
Not quite ready to go mobile with your taxes? Try a couple of basic tax apps: TaxCaster and TaxSlayer both estimate your refund (or bill); IRS2Go lets you track the status of your refund.
This post was originally published on DailyWorth.com