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Ah, tax season. While in the past we’ve totally been the type of gals who frantically search tax deductions and tips the week before our taxes are due, this year we’re making a conscious effort to be more fiscally responsible (heck, we even have the budget and investment plan to prove it). So in order to give ourselves a little wiggle room to prepare our 2016 return, we’re listing 10 cool apps that’ll help us get our ish together *before* April 18.
Taxfyle
Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, filing complicated tax forms can be hella stressful. Luckily, this handy app pairs you with a credentialed tax professional within seconds. Your personal tax expert will message you right in the app to help you file your taxes easily and correctly.
TaxCaster
If you want to get a quick estimate of your tax refund *before* you go through the labor of actually filing, this app is definitely a must-download. Just enter some basic info and the app will estimate your refund for you. It’s that simple.
TurboTax Tax Return App
Whether you’re a freelancer, full-time employee or are just filing a mega complicated tax return, this app is great for anyone looking for a step-by-step guide to doing your taxes. Simply snap a photo of your W-2 and answer simple questions about your life to efile your taxes straight from your smartphone.
H&R Block Tax Prep and File
Filing your taxes with H&R Block’s cool tax app is super easy and basically free (you may have to pay for a few features depending on your specific return). Not only is it ridiculously simple to import last year’s return from any other tax-prep service, but their Q&A style approach makes even the dullest tax lingo easy to understand.
TaxAct Express
If all you have to do for tax season is file a super simple federal tax return, TaxAct Express is definitely a great choice. Offering users basic tax functions for absolutely no cost, this free app will make getting your IRS refund easier than ever.
IRS2Go
The official app of the Internal Revenue Service is a great tool to keep on standby during tax time. You can check your refund status, make a payment, find free tax preparation assistance, and sign up for helpful tax tips too.
QuickBooks Self-Employed
Being self-employed can mean a HUGE headache come tax time. That’s what makes this app so genius — it keeps your finances organized by attaching receipts to business expenses, automatically tracks mileage and categorizes your business expenses easily. On average, subscribers identify $4,340 in potential tax savings per year.
Everlance
If you’re looking for a convenient mileage tracker for your self-employed gig, consider checking out Everlance. Your mileage will be recorded automatically for you in the background without putting undue stress on your phone’s battery. Plus, you can easily upload receipts and use the app to identify tax deductions.
ItsDeductible
If you’re already a TurboTax user, you should definitely download this completely free companion app that allows you to easily keep track of your donations and deductibles.
iDonatedIt
This neat app tracks the date and fair market value of non-cash items you donated to a charity (AKA it gives you the actual price of those totally rad ’80s sweaters you tossed in the charity bin last year). It also builds a list of the items you donate and allows you to keep a permanent record of the items that meet the compliance requirements of the IRS.
