How to File Your Federal and State Taxes with the TurboTax Mobile App
File your federal and state taxes from your phone using TurboTax. The app walks you through every question with plain-language guidance.
At a Glance
Download TurboTax and Create an Account
~31sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Use the same email address you used last year if you filed with TurboTax before. The app will pull in your prior-year information to help confirm names, Social Security numbers, and more.
Answer the Personal Information Questions
~33sWarning
Double-check your Social Security number. A single wrong digit is one of the most common reasons a return gets rejected by the IRS.
Import or Enter Your W-2 and Other Income
~36sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Look for a box labeled "1099-G" if you collected unemployment benefits at any point during the year. That income is taxable and must be included.
Choose Standard or Itemized Deductions
~24sReview Your Return and Check Your Refund or Balance Due
~33sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: If you owe money, you do not have to pay right away when you file. You can file your return now and pay the IRS by the April deadline — the dates are listed in the app.
Submit Your Return Electronically
~30sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Choose direct deposit for your refund. The IRS sends direct deposit refunds in as little as 21 days, compared to six to eight weeks for a paper check.
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Filing taxes can feel overwhelming, but TurboTax's mobile app is designed to ask you questions in plain language and fill in the forms for you behind the scenes. You answer a series of questions about your income, deductions, and personal situation, and the app translates your answers into a completed tax return. You do not need to know anything about tax forms to use it.
The app works for most common tax situations, including W-2 employees, retirees with Social Security income, people with investment accounts, and freelancers with a side income. If your situation is more complex — such as owning a business or having rental properties — TurboTax has paid tiers that handle those cases, including an option to have a real tax professional review your return before you submit it.
One of the most convenient features is the W-2 import tool. Instead of typing in numbers from your paper W-2, you can take a photo of the document with your phone camera and TurboTax reads the information automatically. This saves time and reduces the chance of typos.
TurboTax also includes a refund tracker so you can see whether you owe money or are getting a refund as you go. The app updates that number in real time as you enter more information. By the time you reach the end, you already know what to expect.
The free version covers simple returns — one W-2, the standard deduction, no investment income. Most people who have a more complicated return will need to pay for an upgraded tier, but even those are generally less expensive than hiring a professional tax preparer. TurboTax saves your progress automatically. So you can start on one day and finish on another.
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