It’s the time of year again when tax forms begin to flood mailboxes. For senior caregivers in particular who may be self employed, doing your taxes might seem overwhelming. Gather all of your tax forms as they come in from employers, banks, insurance companies, etc. and look to the IRS2Go app for resources to help prepare help pay your taxes.
The IRS app feels rather bare bones, but it contains a lot of useful information for users. The first screen that shows up features the Refund Status tool for people who have already filed their taxes and are expecting a refund. 24 hours after your tax return is accepted by the government, you can enter your Social Security Number, Tax Filing Status and exact Refund Amount into the tool and the app will show you when your refund will be issued.
The next section of the app gives users who owe money on their tax return the opportunity to pay online via their online bank account, debit card or credit card. Users need to enter the Reason for Payment in addition to the amount and Tax Period for Payment.
The Free Tax Help section of the app shows users where they can go in their community to get free assistance in completing their taxes. When users enter a zip code, a list of locations and the programs they sponsor for free tax help pop up. Organizations like the Center for Economic Progress and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program operate to file taxes for free for low and moderate income families and individuals.
Along with the locations, the Free Tax Help area tells users the exact hours of the tax help services, and whether or not an appointment is needed. It also specifies which program that location operates, so caregivers can look up whether or not they meet the qualifications for help before they go in person. Most services offer help to people making below a certain amount of money, so caregivers can look online or call the program to inquire about their personal situation.
The Stay Connected tab of the app offers ways to stay connected with the IRS via social media, Youtube and an e-mail list for tax tips. The Youtube channel offers videos about specific tax topics to improve understanding for tax payers. While the app may not be much to look at design wise, it does its job of presenting the information in a useful format for taxpayers to use.
The IRS2Go app is available for Apple and Android platforms.
Senior caregivers, let us know your feedback on this app and keep us posted if you discovers additional apps that assist with caregiving duties and help relieve caregiver stress. You may also refer-a-friend to a senior caregiving job and win prizes weekly and monthly on Caregiverlist.
